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p Esteemed Meeting,

p Dear Comrades,

p On behalf of the Central Committee of the Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party and of our delegation, I heartily greet the representatives of the fraternal Parties and all the participants in our Meeting. Especially, I greet our kind hosts, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and express our gratitude for its efforts, to which we owe the good facilities for successful work.

p From the beginning, the Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party supported the idea of convening an International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties. We are glad that the vast majority of the fraternal Parties sent their delegates here. The fact that now, after nearly ten years, representatives of fraternal Parties from all continents are again assembled at this Meeting is, in our opinion, of historic importance for the development of the international communist movement. At present, when our movement has no international organisation, such a broad meeting and exchange of opinion is irreplaceable and extremely necessary for a correct Marxist-Leninist orientation.

p A struggle is under way throughout the world involving many hundreds of millions of people fighting for social progress, national independence and peace, against international reaction, which resists all freedom-loving aspirations. Still broader struggle against imperialism, and consolidation of our unity in that struggle is the most important international task of the Communist and Workers’ Parties in our time. This is doubly true, because our unity is the foundation and condition for the anti-imperialist cohesion of the broad masses, peoples and nations, of all progressives of the globe. The position of the Consultative Conference, which came forward with the proposal of convening our Meeting and determined its character and role, was, therefore, absolutely correct.

p The preparations for the Meeting showed that a striving for unity has been growing stronger in the international communist movement in recent years. Our Meeting is the result of the fact that more than 70 fraternal Parties, acting on the principles of Marxism-Leninism and internationalism, on our common class interests and aims,put aside ideological and political differences on separate issues and subordinated everything to the interests of the common struggle against the imperialists. Our determination to achieve unity brought us here to Moscow, 324 and further consolidation of that unity in the fight for our common aims will yield new mighty victories for the communist cause, the cause of peace.

p Dear comrades, the work of the Preparatory Committee, pursued in a spirit of democracy and collectivism, was successful and created favourable conditions for our Meeting. The independence and equality of Parties was assured and practised throughout the preparatory period. The inalienable right of the representatives of all Parties to set out their Party’s views and ideas freely, without any restrictions, on questions put on the agenda was ensured to the fullest extent. The Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party commends highly the work of all the representatives of fraternal Parties who participated in preparing the Meeting.

p We are convinced that our Meeting will play a substantial role in making the anti-imperialist struggle more eifective, and in cementing the unity of the international communist movement. The task of our Meeting is to work out a principled platform and a programme of action to suit the demands of the struggle against imperialism, a platform and programme effectively supported by all Communist and Workers’ Parties, by all anti-imperialist forces. Our delegation has been instructed to do everything in its power for the successful fulfilment of these tasks of the Meeting and intends to spare no effort in that direction.

p Esteemed comrades, it is an important condition for the success of the struggle against imperialism to subject the complex processes in the world to an all-sided Marxist-Leninist analysis from time to time. That analysis is practicable only through the collective effort of the fraternal Parties, invoking all their experience. Joint struggle and co-operation among the Communist and Workers’ Parties is possible only on the basis of a political platform built on a truly principled Marxist-Leninist analysis. We consider as successful the draft of the Main Document submitted to the Meeting by the Preparatory Committee: it measures up to this important requirement, equipping our Parties with an effective ideological and political weapon for the struggle against imperialism. The Central Committee of the Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party holds that a good draft of the Main Document has been prepared; we are in accord with its evaluations and the line charted in it.

p In our view, the draft Document contains a correct analysis and appraisal of the complicated and contradictory international situation and of its basic problems. Proceeding from the facts, it discloses the aggressive activity of the imperialists, pressed hard by the forces of progress and racked by crises, and reveals the danger implicit in the policy of the imperialist powers. The draft Document contains a correct appraisal of the potentialities of the anti-imperialist forces, and sets out their tasks.

p The realistic conclusion is drawn that one of the main features of the international situation is the growth of the strength and influence of the socialist countries and of the Communist and Workers’ Parties, and the steadily growing struggle of the peoples for freedom and peace. It is also beyond question that the situation has become more acute hi recent years due to imperialism’s heightened aggressiveness. We must understand the fact that the imperialists are perseveringly trying to drive a wedge between the forces of socialism and to exploit the lack of the unity of our ranks for their own political ends.

p The correct conclusion is drawn from this that we must multiply our efforts 325 to repulse and frustrate the adventuristic designs of the imperialists, who are imperilling peace. Still valid is the important conclusion, confirmed by history, that the forces of progress, once united, can bridle the imperialists, safeguard the gains of the working people, of the peoples, .prevent another world war and achieve the triumph of the cause of progress.

p US imperialism is now the main force of world imperialism. Having amassed tremendous profits during the Second World War, the US monopolists tried to secure domination over the world. Under the odious banner of anticommunism, they have mounted an offensive against the forces fighting for socialism, progress and national independence. Although the US imperialist designs of gaining world supremacy have fallen through, and will also fail in the future, the imperialists have not given them up and, in concert with their allies and satellites, are organising more and more provocations against the socialist countries, the forces of progress, against the freedom and security of nations.

p The aggressive war against the Vietnamese people is the most barbarous and most undisguised undertaking of the US imperialists at present. At the same time, that war is a violation of world peace. The people of Vietnam are fighting heroically, with dedication, for their national freedom, for the right of self- determination, enjoying the-sympathy and support of all progressive forces, all honest men on earth. We think it is only right that in a separate document our Meeting should declare our solidarity with the people of Vietnam, our determination to continue giving it every assistance in its just struggle until complete victory.

p The critical situation in the Middle East, fraught with new explosions that may erupt at any moment, evokes the legitimate indignation and alarm of progressives and peace champions throughout the world. Israel’s ruling circles, a tool of the imperialists in the drive for their great-power aims, cling stubbornly to their aggressive designs. Backed by the US imperialists, they are doing everything to obstruct a just and lasting peace in that region. We stand for a political settlement of the Middle East conflict in conformity with the UN Security Council decision of November 22, 1967. In our view, every help should be extended to the attacked and imperilled Arab countries.

p The Parties of the world communist movement, the forces of progress and peace, should also devote great attention to the European problems. European peace is threatened most of all and most directly by the fledgling of US imperialism and its ally number one in Europe—West German revanchism and militarism.

p Acting on the principles of peaceful coexistence, the Hungarian People’s Republic seeks normal relations and mutually advantageous and versatile ties with the Federal Republic of Germany, despite the different social systems. But adjustment and development of relations is seriously hampered by the fact that the FRG still refuses to recognise the borders that emerged in Europe after the defeat of nazi Germany, refuses to acknowledge the existence of two German states and recognise the German Democratic Republic, an important stronghold of peace and socialism in Europe. At the same time, it encourages revenge-seeking and neo-fascist aspirations. That makes it incumbent upon the peoples to keep up their vigilance and to remember that German monopoly capital had plunged the world into the vortex of war twice in the lifetime of a single generation.

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p The last, Budapest session of the Political Consultative Committee of the Warsaw Treaty countries initiated a constructive move for European peace and the strengthening of European collective security. As a first step we suggested an all-European conference. The favourable response shows that it was a good and timely initiative. We are continuing our efforts in that direction. Assuring peace and strengthening security in Europe require an appropriale contribution by the governments of all the countries of the continent, coupled with effective support and action by the people. An important, determinative role in unfolding the social movement for peace and security is played, and will be played, by the Communist and Workers’ Parties.

p To prevent a new world war that would cause Unheard of devastation, to safeguard and strengthen peace is still the main problem of our time. We live in an epoch of social revolutions, the road to which was blazed by Lenin, the Russian Bolsheviks, the Great October Socialist Revolution. We also live in a period of a rapidly unfolding scientific and technological revolution. History has given the Communist and Workers’ Parties, our world movement, the noble task of assuming the lead in the struggle to place the achievements of the human mind in the service of man’s emancipation and happiness, not his extermination.

p We Communists are struggling for general and complete disarmament, we want the skies always to be clear and free of danger. And as long as this is not accomplished, we shall support all reasonable steps leading to that goal. We support the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, and we equally support the Geneva negotiations examining possibilities for reducing the armaments race. We are working tirelessly for the materialisation of the numerous peaceful initiatives of the Soviet Union, the socialist countries, the Warsaw Treaty Organisation.

p The working people of the world, Communists and non-Communists alike, pin great hopes on our Meeting. They expect that we will strengthen the peace front opposing the aggressors. The Hungarian delegation supports the draft of our Meeting’s Appeal in Defence of Peace, which reiterates that the Communist and Workers’ Parties are ready to join hands with all forces and all honest men to avert the threat of another war hanging over mankind, and to safeguard the peace.

p Dear comrades, the world communist movement has grown in scale. Fraternal Parties have been formed and function in nearly all countries. Their strength is growing steadily. Taking guidance from Marxism-Leninism, they chart their policy independently, work for the interest of their working class, their people, uniting forces under the banner of internationalism against world imperialism.

p The conditions in which our Parties work are extremely varied. The Communist and Workers’ Parties in the socialist countries bear the responsibility for guiding their countries. In some capitalist countries the Parties constitute a powerful and legal force, in others they work and fight semi-legally or underground, exposed to brutal persecutions.

p If we intend to co-ordinate our efforts on an international scale and to cement our unity in the fight against imperialism, our common enemy, we must 327 carefully consider each other’s views, and strive mutually to understand the situation of each in the best possible way. Battles fought by each of the fighting contingents of our world movement, the results of those battles, are for us equally important.

p The socialist world system comprising 14 countries in three continents, the main force of the world-wide anti-imperialist struggle, is the biggest historical gain of the international working-class movement. In terms of history, the new world system is still young, and its growth naturally poses many new and complicated problems. It is up to our Parties to solve these problems.

p The development of the socialist world system depends on the solution of problems that arise in the individual socialist countries and, to no less a degree, on how well we use the immense potential irnplicit in the effective and multilateral co-operation of the socialist countries. The Hungarian People’s Republic thinks highly of the socialist co-operation that has taken shape in the framework of the Warsaw Treaty Organisation and the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance. It is striving actively to expand its ties and co-operation with all the socialist countries.

p The common task of all the Parties of our world movement, whatever the conditions in which they exist and function, is to co-ordinate their struggle and join forces on the basis of our common world outlook and common class aims. MarxismLeninism, internationalism and the identity of the vital interests of the workers and other working people of different countries, is the enduring principled foundation of our unity and cohesion.

p In the epoch of capitalism the forces of progress and reaction confront each other not only within the borders of some given country, but also on a worldwide, international scale. Back at the time when international capital drowned the Paris Commune in blood, Marx pointed out that the working class had achieved international cohesion in defending itself against cosmopolitan capital.

p In the face of international capital, we need still greater cohesion than a hundred years ago. Since the victory of the first socialist revolution and the formation of the Soviet Union, the fight between the forces of socialism and capitalism has been in the focus of world development. This has become more distinctly evident since the emergence of the world socialist system.

p In the present situation, monopoly capital does not shrink from attempts to overthrow the socialist system or, at least, to pry away this or that country from the socialist community. This is an indication of the common interests of world imperialism, the common class interests of the capitalists.

p The suppression in 1919 of the Hungarian Soviet Republic, the first workers’ state in Hungary, by the armed forces of world imperialism, the troops of the . Entente, was an instructive lesson to be constantly remembered from the history of the Hungarian working class and our people. The counter-revolutionary regime imposed on the Hungarian people was overthrown in 1945, when the Soviet Army, which liberated our country, cleared Hungary of the nazi occupation forces.

p Reality was such that in 1956 another difficult trial fell to the lot of the Hungarian people, who had embarked on the building of socialist society. Reactionary forces at home, goaded and supported by world imperialism, exploited 328 the now well-known mistakes that really occurred, exploited the confusion in the ranks of the adherents of socialism, coupled with the subversion by the revisionists, to spark off a bloody counter-revolutionary insurrection.

p This attempt by the enemies of workers’ power failed because the revolutionary forces in our country/, backed by the solidarity and support of the Soviet Union, the socialist countries and the international communist movement, gained the upper hand. During the work of the Preparatory Committee in Budapest, the representatives of the fraternal Parties had the opportunity to see for themselves that the people of Hungary having upheld and consolidated their power, are carrying on steadily and successfully with their work of completing the building of socialist society.

p Hungary’s example shows clearly that the imperialists are continuously striving, by various means and methods, to subvert and weaken, and if possible to crush, the new developing socialist countries, to crush their political system.

p Our Party, our working class, the people of Hungary, have learned from their own experience how and whereby counter-revolution begins and what it becomes later, when it gains the upper hand and acts openly, casting off its disguises. The 1956 counter-revolutionary insurrection is a recent event and its lessons are still fresh in our memories. To our Party it showed clearly the role played by our own mistakes among the factors that imperilled the very existence of our People’s Democracy, how these mistakes were used for their own ends by the enemies of our system at home and abroad, who acted against us and who was on our side.

p The solidarity and support of the Soviet Union, other socialist countries and of the world communist movement helped the Hungarian People’s Republic during the difficult period in 1956. The international forces which helped our country constantly bore in mind that the defence of the workers’ power, of the gains of socialism in one country is a common cause, that it is in the common interests of all the socialist countries, of the entire international working class. History teaches us that proletarian internationalism, unity and cohesion and mutual support in the struggle are the decisive, inexhaustible well-spring of strength for the people, for the working class of each separate socialist country.

p The wide political discussion conducted- over the Hungarian events in 1956 and now conducted over the assessment, of the events in Czechoslovakia conclusively shows what an important question, from the viewpoint of the international class struggle, is the growth or possible slowing down of development, a critical situation in one or another socialist country, and also what decisive significance attaches to the class approach in evaluating these events.

p In connection with the Czechoslovak events the representatives of some fraternal Parties have raised the question that the leaders of socialist countries should not confuse proletarian internationalism with state interests. We must see, and this has been confirmed by practical experience, that when the destiny of me socialist country is at stake, this affects the interests of all. International imperialism as a whole and each imperialist power individually are interested in weakening the socialist countries; moreover they would like the entire socialist world system to go out of existence. On the other hand, the international 329 working class as a whole, the people of each socialist country, each Communist or Workers’ Party individually are also interested in that any socialist country, encountering great difficulties and finding itself in a critical position, should be able to overcome them, should continue to develop and gain strength.

p In so far as it concerns the socialist countries, the relationship between proletarian,internationalism and state interests must be correctly interpreted. The Communist Parties are the ruling parties in the socialist countries. The aim of the Parties. and the peoples of these countries is to build a socialist society, communism. The social system in every socialist country and the relations between them are based on the same principles, they have the same aims and therefore their basic interests too coincide. The success of every socialist country adds to the strength of the other countries, while difficulties in any of them are a burden for all the other, countries. This is not a turn of speech, but actual reality. Both the joys and the cares are shared by us in common.

p No Communist Party, no socialist country can grow stronger at the expense of the others or at the price of their weakening. That is why the leaders of socialist countries cannot separate questions of proletarian internationalism from the state interests of the socialist countries. Should the leaders of any socialist country consider internationalism and the state interests of their country,in isolation from each other, they would merely inflict harm both on our common cause and on the interests of their own country.

p The Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party.and the Hungarian People’s Republic have never denied the fact that they cannot remain indifferent to the Czechoslovak events. It cannot be otherwise when it concerns allied socialist countries. The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and the Hungarian People’s Republic are neighbours; both our peoples, who are building a socialist society, are linked by a community of historical destinies.

p At each stage of the Czechoslovak events the Central Committee .of our Party and the Government of our country have been guided in all their actions by the principles of internationalism, a feeling of solidarity, and not by something else. We are interested in one thing and we only want the problems in Czechoslovak society to be solved in a socialist way.

p The internal problems of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic must be solved by the Communist Party, by the working class and the people of Czechoslovakia. We believe that they will do this, especially as the Central Committee of the fraternal Czechoslovak Party has recently taken matters resolutely into its own hands. We sincerely wish the Czechoslovak Commumsts and the fraternal Czech and Slovak peoples success in the struggle to defend and consolidate the gains of socialism.

p Dear comrades, the draft Document presented to the Meeting assesses the role of the socialist states in the struggle against imperialism, sums up the results of our countries’ development and also points to existing problems and tasks. In our opinion, this is correct. We are striving to improve the work of our Party in conformity with the new requirements of our development and to extend our labour achievements in building socialism. At the same time we understand very well that if we do not work systematically to eliminate existing shortcomings, this can harm the cause of socialism. However, I must also emphasise that 330 we do not allow and cannot afford to allow any Vilification of socialism and attacks upon it on the pretext of combating its shortcomings,

p The socialist countries have many different critics. Our enemies are ceaselessly attacking our system under the most diverse pretexts. It has now become the fashion to identify the concept of the socialist state with bureaucracy. Naturally we still have bureaucratic manifestations and tendencies. We are fighting them by improving the work of the civil service, developing socialist statehood and socialist democracy, actively drawing ever new strata of the working people into social life, enlisting their help in solving various problems. We do not idealise the attained development level in any sphere of social life and are constantly striving to enhance it,

p This is one side of the matter, The other side is that the socialist state, the power of the working people, is the most democratic state in history, one that has ended the exploitation of man by fnan and serves the people, Experience shows that the withering away’ of the socialist state has not yet set in, that in the divided world of today there is a need for its defence function, while its economic, Cultural and organisational activity is needed for building a socialist society. Accordingly OuJ Party is working to reinforce the state institutions, to develop the activity of the state.

p In Hungary no one can encroach with impunity on the state of the working people. This is determined by political, moral and state laws, and we will not allow the weakening or destruction of our state on the pretext of some kind of “innovations”.

p Dear comrades, each country which has embarked on the socialist road has enriched practical experience with specific distinctions. Undoubtedly, the future will bring still greater diversity of the ways and forms of building a socialist society. Both today and in future our Parties must constantly bear in mind a prime demand of Marxism-Leninism: to apply the general laws of building socialism and also to take into consideration the concrete conditions and the historical and national distinctions ’of their countries* The ignoring of the general laws of socialism, just as neglect of national distinctions and conditions, upsets development, causes crises and leads to impasses,

p Our Parties are independent. The socialist countries are sovereign and independent. The sovereignty of our countries, the national independence of our peoples are combined with socialist social relations and rest on them. At the given historical stage the sovereignty of our countries, their national independence are ensured above all by our alliance with the other socialist countries and also by the strength and further development of the socialist foundations of our society.

p We must constantly remember that the independent activity and, particularly, the very existence of Communist and Workers’ Parties, the sovereignty and national independence of the socialist countries and the possibilities of their development are incessantly subjected to attacks and threats by reactionary circles in the capitalist countries, by international imperialism. Our enemies, the imperialists,- are fully awate that their counter-revolutionary plans directed against the Socialist world system can be only successful if they manage to drive breaches and stir up contradictions between socialist countries.

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p But the proponents of the ideas of socialism, even in the heat of the polemic, must not .diverge from class positions. We Hungarian Communists most vigorously reject the views of those who, on the pretext of dividing socialist countries into “big” and “small”, try to isolate and separate them from each other. We also reject the views of those who, under the slogan of struggle against the "policy of blocs", seek to place on the sanie level the aggressive military organisation of international imperialism and the defensive community of socialist states.

p We must fight with utmost determination and political courage against the different attempts of the imperialists to weaken and disrupt our ranks. It is necessary to step up the struggle against bourgeois ideas infiltrating our ranks, against revisionist and dogmatic views which distort the principles of MarxismLeninism and lead people onto a false path. Of the bourgeois views, the nationalist views, particularly the form of nationalism expressed in anti-Sovietism, are unquestionably the most dangerous for our movement.

p Dear comrades, we cannot but mention what is now the chief concern of the international working-class movement and one of the prime issues complicating the international situation. Our draft documents make no mention of the policy of the Chinese leaders on the consideration that in the documents of the Meeting we should refrain from criticising individual Parties. Nevertheless, when we speak of the anti-imperialist struggle and strengthening our unity, We Cannot but consider the incontrovertible fact that today the policy of the Chinese leaders and their supporters is a serious obstacle to our striving for unity and that it greatly complicates and hampers the struggle against imperialism.

p Objectively, the present policy of the Chinese leaders is the greatest boon to international imperialism) it brings it advantages and inspires it with hope.

p It goes without saying that the Central Committee of the Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party regrets that this situation has arisen as regards the Communist Party of China. But principles must not be sacrificed, and we cannot remain neutral either. In the given case it is a matter not of a discussion between two Parties or of some secondary question but of the general line of the international communist movement, of our struggle. That is why the Central Committee of our Party has again resolutely denounced the petty-bourgeois pseudo-radicalism, aspirations for hegemony, divisive activity, nationalism, anti-Sovietism, armed border provocations, the entire harmful political course of the Chinese leaders.

p We continue to entertain sincere sentiments of friendship for and solidarity with the Chinese people who are now undergoing a grave tragedy. We believe that the gains of socialism will not be lost in China, that the Chinese people with their great revolutionary traditions will be able to overcome the difficulties and rejoin our common struggle. This above all conforms to the interests of the Chinese people themselves and also of all the forces and champions of progress. As for the hopes of imperialism, we must bury them, and, notwithstanding all the difficulties created by the Mao line, strengthen the cohesion of the Parties of the international communist movement, of the socialist countries in the anti-imperialist struggle.

p Dear comrades, it goes without saying that the imperialists pin definite hopes on the differences between countries of the world socialist system and in the ranks of the international communist movement.

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p Acting as unsolicited advocates of "progressive socialism", “independence” and “sovereignty” the imperialists resort to military force, economic pressure, flirtation, outright slander and clandestine subversive activity to undermine our ranks. They would like to separate the socialist countries, the Communist and Workers’ Parties from each other, but cjiiefly and above all from the Soviet Union which, from the moment of its birth, has been the main impediment to imperialist plans. Its military might, political and moral prestige serve as the chief obstacle making it impossible for ’the imperialists to unleash another world war without the risk of hastening the hour of their doom. The imperialists are compelled to reckon with the imposing strength of the Soviet Union; similarly, all the progressive forces should properly understand the role of the main bulwark of socialism and peace.

p There is no Communist or Workers’ Party whose history is not inseparably linked with the history of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the rise of Leninism, the activities of Lenin, who elaborated the ideological and organisational principles of the revolutionary Party of the contemporary working class, the party of a new type. There is no socialist country which can say that its existence does not depend on the first socialist state, just as there is no country whose stable prospects of socialist development and security are not protected by the existence, internationalist policy and might of the Soviet Union.

p We often stress that all the Parties of the international communist movement, all the countries of the socialist world system are equal. This is really so, and this is a good thing. But recently little has been said about the fact that although we are equal, we have an unequal responsibility and burden. For, measured by any standard, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Soviet people, which have equal rights with us and do not lay claim to more, bear an immeasurably greater, responsibility than any of us. Disinterestedly, acting in the spirit of internationalism, they have made, and are making, greater sacrifices than anyone else in the interests of communism, the freedom of the nations, for the prevention of a world \var and for a happy future for mankind.

p Those who share our ideology, the millions of workers and other working people throughout the world, have always had respect for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and the Soviet people. The Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Soviet people, by their victory in the Great October Socialist Revolution and by everything they have achieved since then have assumed the progressive, honourable and at the same time very difficult mission of pioneer and the attendant privations and sacrifices, and have always worthily discharged that mission.

p To appreciate that mission of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the Land of Soviets, is not merely a question of emotion. It is a question closely linked with the agenda of our Meeting, with the struggle against imperialism, with our unity.

p In the mortal combat with imperialism, in the struggle of the two world systems—capitalism and socialism—it is vital to strengthen our unity and confront imperialism with a solid front of socialist countries and Communist and Workers’ Parties. A correct, principled attitude to the Soviet Union is 333 a prime question of our unity, internationalism and cohesion of all the antiimperialist forces.

p Dear comrades, I would like to refer to a great event in the life of the international communist movement which we will mark next year, the centenary of the brith of the immortal Lenin. We approve the propositions of the draft document in connection with this memorable date. It seems to us that all are in agreement that we can observe this great anniversary most fittingly by our revolutionary deeds, maintaining loyalty to the ideas of Marxism-Leninism, faithfully following the Leninist teaching and strengthening the unity of our movement. In our work we must utilise everything Lenin left by his life and activity as a legacy to us, Communists, in order to advance further along the path blazed for the international working class, the peoples and all mankind by the Russian revolution, which he led.

p Dear comrades, during the months of preparations for the present Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties and in these days we have made a big step forward. The fraternal Parties which came to this Meeting unanimously recognise the urgent necessity for further strengthening the political cohesion and unity of action of the international communist and working-class movement. This is a paramount demand conforming to the common interests of our movement, of each fraternal Party and the international working class.

p Unity can be achieved only on a voluntary basis, and it is created by joint purposeful efforts. It cannot be imposed from the outside. But it is necessary— such is the imperative of the time. We do not think that unity on every question of interest to all can be attained in one day, but it is beyond doubt that if we work persistently our efforts will be crowned with success.

p We have arrived at the unanimous conclusion that in order to reinforce the anti-imperialist struggle, it is necessary, as well as uniting the Communist and Workers’ Parties, to unite all the anti-imperialist forces. A requisite for this is the energetic activity and initiative of the fraternal Parties. Our Parties sincerely strive for co-operation with all who are prepared to work for social progress, national independence and peace. We propose an equal alliance to all who understand that the anti-imperialist solidarity of the peoples rests on defending the vitally important interests of the working people, of all mankind.

p Esteemed Meeting,

p Dear comrades, in conclusion I would like to emphasise once more that the delegation of the Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party agrees with the submitted draft documents, considers them fully acceptable and recommends that the Meeting approve them.

p We are aware that the adoption and publication of documents which summarise and expound our positions are a highly important step forward, but there still remains much to do. After this Meeting our Parties will tackle the actual work of implementing the propositions enunciated in the documents. We are convinced that if subsequently we work as we did to convene the present Meeting, the results will soon be forthcoming.

Today, the eyes of people the world over, both of our friends and our foes, are turned to Moscow, to the Meeting of Communist and’ Workers’ Parties. Let then the Meeting justify, the hopes of Communists and other 334 progressive people of the world, the hopes associated with this international forum. In conclusion I can assure the representatives of the fraternal Parties that the Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party, that all Hungarian Communists are aware of their responsibility and are prepared to work and fight for the success of our common cause in close unity with all the fraternal Parties. Thank you.