p Comrades, the draft appropriately refers to the question of socialist democracy. It is valid as ever that victorious socialism exerts its influence on the world revolutionary developments chiefly by its economic achievements. But with such breath-taking achievements in the construction of socialism and communism, the question of constantly strengthening and deepening socialist democracy naturally comes more and more to the forefront. In fact, it is on the basis of enrichment and elaboration of socialist democracy that the creative energies of the working people in the socialist countries can be unleashed in full measure. For the working people in the capitalist countries, especially the younger generation, the flowering of socialist democracy also becomes a force of great attraction. This would seem particularly so when the broadest strata of the people are being attracted towards socialism and the revolutionary working class. Any incident or happening in the contrary direction causes concern and confusion, and tends to alienate the masses in the capitalist countries from the lofty ideas of Marxism-Leninism. This matter deserves closer attention of the Communist and Worker’s Parties.

p Before I close, I would like to emphasise that our Document draws pointed attention to our task of a constant struggle against Right and Left opportunism. I would like to say that recent experience highlights the phenomenon that both Right and Left opportunism lead to narrow nationalism and even to national hegemonism. It is this danger against which each one of us has to exercise the maximum vigilance, against which we must pit all our strength so that proletarian internationalism, which has always been the breath of our nostrils, is reinforced and strengthened with every passing day.

p We are patriotic parties, the most consistently patriotic parties, in spite of all the bourgeois slanders directed against us ever since the Communist Manifesto saw the light of day 120 years ago. There is no higher patriotism than Marxism-Leninism.

p But while we are patriotic parties, national parties, we are not nationalistic parties. We are national contingents of the international brotherhood of workers, irrespective of creed, colour and nationality. The moment this burning consciousness begins to become dim in our minds and activity, that moment we begin to depart from the highest principle of Marxism, from proletarian internationalism.

p The acid test of our international solidarity lies in this that the socialist 484 countries go all out to give all assistance, economic, political, diplomatic and even military, to all the peoples of the world fighting imperialism and reaction. But proletarian internationalism is not a one-way traffic. We from the capitalist countries have also to face our task. Our proletarian internationalism lies certainly in mutual assistance, but equally, and even more, in giving all possible support to the socialist countries when their achievements or security are threatened by imperialism and its vile conspiracies.

p Such in our opinion, is the key message of the Document we are going to adopt. Let us be loyal to it, loyal to the teachings of Marx and Lenin, loyal to the cause of unity of all revolutionary and democratic forces in their common struggle against imperialism, and victory is certain. The future belongs to us, to the toiling people of all countries. The days of imperialism are numbered.

Comrades, I cannot end without expressing the deeply felt thanks of my Party and its members to the Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party for the invaluable initiative taken by it in bringing about this Conference. Our heartfelt thanks also go to the CPSU and its leadership, without whose role our conference could not have yielded the results achieved by it. We express our thanks to all those Parties who are present here and some who are absent for their efforts to contribute to the cohesion of the world communist movement against imperialism.