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p June 15, 1971

p Esteemed comrades,

p Dear friends,

p The delegation of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union has been instructed by the Central Committee of the CPSU to convey its fraternal communist greetings to the delegates of the 8th Congress of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany! (Applause.) We also convey these greetings to each member of your Party, to each citizen of the German Democratic Republic. (Applause.)

p It was with keen interest and a feeling of pride for the deeds and plans of our German friends that our delegation listened to the SUPG Central Committee report delivered by the CC First Secretary, Comrade Erich Honecker. Your Party’s present Congress will undoubtedly be a landmark in GDR socialist construction.

p In the quarter of a century of its activities the Socialist Unity Party of Germany has done a tremendous job of which it can justly be proud. The handclasp with which the outstanding leaders of the German working-class movement—the Communist Wilhelm Pieck and the SocialDemocrat Otto Grotewohl—sealed the indestructible alliance of the two contingents of the working class has become the symbol of your Party. Its foundation was an event of tremendous importance in the history of the German working-class movement, an act of profound political wisdom. The fundamental significance of this act has been confirmed by the whole process of the GDR’s development, by the remarkable achievements of socialist development in your country.

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p Even in the grim years of the Second World War Soviet people did not identify the working people of Germany with the criminal Hitlerite clique. We believed that the spirit of resistance to fascism was alive on German soil too, that the heart of future Germany was beating in the underground groups and prison dungeons. And we were not mistaken! After the war, in a Germany ruined by the nazi adventurers, with the greater part of the population morally corrupted by fascism, the very idea of building a new, socialist society seemed to many a remote, hardly realisable dream. But the German Communists, continuators of the cause championed by the courageous revolutionaries Karl Liebknecht, Rosa Luxemburg and Ernst Thaelmann, believed in the progressive forces of the German people. (Applause.) True to their revolutionary duty, in alliance with the progressive SocialDemocrats, they boldly assumed responsibility for their country’s destinies, succeeded in inspiring the working people by their ideals and stirring the masses to struggle for a better future. Overcoming enormous difficulties and confronted by a powerful and experienced class enemy entrenched on the other side of the Elbe, they creditably and within a brief historical period fulfilled a task of vast significance—they built a socialist state, the German Democratic Republic. (Prolonged applause.)

p This, comrades, was a real feat. By performing it, the German Communists won the respect and gratitude of their people and their class brothers and comrades-in-arms in the revolutionary struggle the world over. (Prolonged applause.)

p Armed with the invincible truth of the great teachings of Marx, Engels and Lenin, the Socialist Unity Party of Germany achieved success first of all because it had united the best sons and daughters of the German working class. Thanks to its farsighted policy of uniting all the progressive parties and organisations in the country into the National Front, your Party forged an alliance of all the active forces of society on the basis of a programme of peace, democratic transformations and socialist construction. The Communists of the GDR won the minds and hearts of the younger generation with their noble ideas and the grandeur of their cause. (Applause.) And this, comrades, is especially important. For it is the young people who are destined to carry on our work and see it through to complete victory. (Applause.)

p The SUPG enjoys high prestige in the international 473 communist movement also because it has always been led by tried and tested Marxists-Leninists, true representatives of the working class, men steeled in the struggle against fascism, fighters for socialism. (Prolonged applause.) Comrade Walter Ulbricht, who has devoted all his energies, all his vast political experience to the cause of the German workers, to the cause of socialism, has won the profound respect and gratitude of the working people of the German Democratic Republic and all its friends. (Stormy applause.) Our esteemed friend and comrade, Erich Honecker, staunch, anti-fascist and outstanding organiser of Party and state construction in the republic, enjoys the deep trust of Communists, of all the working people of the GDR. (Stormy, prolonged applause.)

p Your Party can claim credit for the fact that during the process of fulfilling the big and difficult job of reorganising society along the socialist lines it advanced, educated and steeled splendid cadres of Party leaders equipped with a Marxist-Leninist world outlook, utterly devoted to the working classes and firmly adhering to the positions of socialist internationalism. (Applause.) Such cadres are now to be found in all sections of the Party—from the Political Bureau of the Central Committee to local Party organisations. (Applause.)

p Comrades,

p These days you are clarifying the further perspectives for the Party’s work, for the development of the state and socialist society. In this you have the impressive gains of the past years to go by, gains made in implementing the decisions of the previous Party congresses. Much has been done—in the sphere of Party development and economics and the development of socialist statehood.

p This is not the first time we are in the GDR, and each visit to your republic is like meeting an old and good friend. (Prolonged applause.) Again one comes across things that had previously gladdened our eye and heart. And each time one discovers something new and tangibly feels the pulse of the big seething life your Party and the entire people of the GDR are living. (Stormy applause.)

p The socialist German Democratic Republic has traversed a big and glorious road. The process of its establishment, its break with the forces of the past were not easy. Every position in socialist construction has literally to be fought 474 for, every one is contested in bitter struggle against the schemes of the revanchists and imperialists. But, as the great Goethe said so well, "He only earns his freedom and existence who daily conquers them anew.” (Stormy, prolonged applause.)

p The new social system established itself in the GDR firmly and for all time. Its advantages are appreciated by millions of German working people. An end has been put to exploitation, to unemployment, to humiliating social discrimination. The working people of the GDR now know by their everyday experience what free creative labour is, what complete confidence in the morrow means. This new system, under which the people has become the maker and master of its own life, grows stronger year by year and will continue to develop and grow stronger. (Applause.)

p Of course, when political and socio-economic transformations are undertaken on such a vast scale, it is impossible to foresee everything in detail and not always possible to avoid difficulties. All the more honour therefore to the working class, the cooperated peasantry and the people’s intelligentsia who, under the leadership of your Party, are giving the world an example of confident, stable development on the path of socialism and peace. (Stormy, prolonged applause.)

p Comrades,

p It so happens that very important events have been taking place in the last few months in the life of many Parties in the fraternal socialist countries, namely, the holding of Party congresses. These are significant and joyful times. Significant because at their supreme forums the Communists plan the development of their countries for many years ahead. Joyful because this development is steadily proceeding in a single direction: towards the still greater prosperity of the socialist countries, towards the improvement of the people’s well-being, the creation of increasingly better conditions for a happy life filled with fruitful creative labour for people.

p The Communists of Hungary, the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and the Mongolian People’s Republic have already held their congresses. As at your Congress, each of them has discussed in detail and in a businesslike manner plans for further development, for dealing with the problems confronting the given Party and country, for eliminating the existing shortcomings. The plans and problems of course are not the same everywhere—they depend on the conditions of 475 life in the given country. But there is undoubtedly much the recent congresses of the Communist Parties of the fraternal countries have had in common. Common to them all is the fact that they have given to the world a vivid and impressive picture of a healthy, fast-growing, dynamic socialist society. A society in which the conscious labour of millions under the leadership of the communist vanguard is directed wholly towards promoting the welfare of the entire nation. A society where every year, every five- yearplan period brings with it new tangible successes in the spheres of political, economic, social, scientific and cultural development. (Prolonged applause.)

p One great advantage of the world socialist system, of our socialist way of life is that in the process of development of the fraternal countries the Communist Parties carefully study and use each other’s positive experience. The experience of the Communists of the Soviet Union, who were the first to pave the way to socialist development, the experience of other countries, including the GDR, where the problems of a developed socialist society are being broadly dealt with—all this together forms the collective experience of socialism, our great common asset. (Prolonged applause.) Skilful use of it greatly benefits each one of the fraternal countries, often saving them the trouble of seeking solutions that may already have been found by others or preventing them from repeating the miscalculations or errors made by others.

p A number of countries of the socialist community have now entered a stage of development which their Communist Parties define as the building of full-grown or developed socialism. At this stage they are confronted by big and highly complex tasks: how best to combine the advantages of the socialist system with the latest achievements of the scientific and technological revolution; how to ensure on this basis highly effective and planned proportionate development of the entire national economy, and substantially improve the people’s well-being; in what forms the work of moulding people’s consciousness in the socialist spirit is to be developed in breadth and depth; by what ways further progress is to be made in the creative development of socialist democracy; how to raise cooperation among the fraternal socialist countries to a new level. (Prolonged applause.)

p These are grand and noble tasks! The fraternal socialist 476 countries are living through a time that is rich with thrilling prospects and opportunities. Of course there will be no few difficulties in their path, but the hardest part of the job can definitely be said to have been done already. (Stormy, prolonged applause.)

p The Soviet Union has entered upon a new and important stage of communist construction. The decisions of the 24th Congress of the CPSU, as you are well aware, have opened up unprecedented horizons in all spheres of social development for the Soviet people. The Communists and all the working people of the Soviet Union hailed the Congress decisions with enthusiasm and have set about implementing them with all speed in the manner characteristic of Communists. We are deeply gratified that the results of the 24th Congress of the CPSU have evoked a broad and favourable response in other countries too. I take this opportunity to inform you, dear German comrades, that the Soviet Communists highly appreciate the attention which the 24th CPSU Congress materials have received in your Party. We are deeply grateful to the Communists and all the working people of the GDR for organising a socialist emulation campaign in honour of our 24th Congress. (Prolonged applause.) Soviet people see in all this a manifestation of genuine fraternal friendship and socialist internationalism. (Stormy, prolonged applause.)

p How strikingly the present state of the capitalist world contrasts with the steady advancement of the socialist countries, with their historical optimism! The general crisis of the capitalist system is drawing its noose tighter and tighter. The grave crisis of imperialist policy, the continuing feverish state of the economy, lack of confidence in the future, the profound moral crisis—such is the picture of present-day capitalism. And there is no reformer or healer capable of curing these organic diseases and maladies. (Prolonged applause.)

p The world recently witnessed yet another shock to capitalism’s monetary and financial system. Another blow has been dealt the once shining American dollar, that god, or rather yellow devil, of capitalist society. And this is no accidental, isolated phenomenon. It reflects the general internal instability of capitalism. It is of the same category as the acute class battles, the social, national and racial conflicts that shake the capitalist countries, and the mass 477 anti-war actions in the United States, the biggest of the bourgeois countries.

p The ground is clearly slipping more and more from under the feet of capitalism at home. It is also losing support in the countries of the former colonial world, which are steadily pursuing their own way—the way of independence and social progress, the way of friendship and cooperation with the socialist states. (Applause.) In this situation some leaders of the imperialist world become incapable of soberly assessing the position and plunge into military gambles and resort to aggression. This is evidenced by the imperialists’ aggressive wars against the peoples of Indochina and the Arab countries.

p Under these conditions the role played by the socialist countries in defence of peace and the peoples’ freedom and social gains is an especially important one. The peoples of the world know that they can rely on the socialist countries, which consistently follow the Leninist line in their foreign policy. (Prolonged applause.) And the closer together our states act, the more coordinated their actions in the world arena, the more stable will the foundations of universal peace and security be and the more firmly will the peoples advance towards freedom and independence. (Stormy, prolonged applause.)

p The great alliance between the socialist countries and the new progressive states which have broken out of their colonial fetters is one of the most characteristic developments of our age. We consider it our duty to do everything we can to strengthen this alliance. An important event in this respect is the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation recently concluded between the Soviet Union and the United Arab Republic, a document which was hailed with satisfaction by all progressive and peaceful forces. (Applause.)

p We Communists are confirmed and adamant opponents of aggression and aggressors. At the same time we are just as confirmed and staunch proponents of the peaceful coexistence of states, irrespective of the differences in their social systems. We extend our hand in all sincerity to all those who want to cooperate honestly on the basis of mutual respect and mutual advantage, and are ready for such cooperation.

p Comrades,

p Your Party and your republic are successfully solving major and complex foreign policy problems. Perhaps no 478 other state of the socialist community has had to overcome so many obstacles on the path to international recognition as the German Democratic Republic. The capitalist world tried to organise a political and diplomatic blockade of the GDR on a worldwide scale. It has failed. The GDR today has diplomatic relations with 29 states in all parts of the world. (Stormy, prolonged applause.}

p The GDR confidently performs its important role and demonstrates its growing potentialities in the most diverse spheres of international intercourse. Its parliamentary and social contacts are steadily expanding. It is now clear to everyone that a European conference is inconceivable without the equal participation of the GDR. (Applause.) The foreign trade and economic ties which it already has with more than 100 countries are growing year by year. The Leipzig Fair has become one of the biggest and most popular events of its kind in the world. We share your joy when representatives of the GDR are honoured for victories at international sports contests, and this is happening more and more often. (Stormy applause.)

p Your republic’s growing international prestige and influence is the result of all that the working people of the GDR have done in state, economic and cultural development. It may be said with full justice that it is the result of the many years of joint efforts of the socialist countries, the result of our unity in espousing the cause of peace and socialism. (Prolonged applause.)

p Berlin in the past was known as a capital from which no good news favourable to peace ever emanated. It was the bastion of the German militarists and munition kings. Its reputation has undergone a complete change after it became the capital of the German socialist state. Today it is the voice of peace and international friendship that one hears from Berlin, the capital of the GDR. (Stormy, prolonged applause.) This change exemplifies the historic turn which the establishment of a peaceful socialist state on German soil has brought about. (Applause.)

p Today, on the eve of the 30th anniversary of Hitler Germany’s attack on the Soviet Union, people’s thoughts willingly or unwillingly turn to this event, to the lessons of the Second World War. No Soviet people, no Germans, nor any other peoples can forget what that war cost them. Tens of millions of people perished in it. And although a new 479 generation has arisen since the war, the scars of war, its painful aftermath, make themselves felt in politics and economics and in people’s psychology. Today, more than a quarter of a century after the end of the war, the main task facing the peoples of Europe is to prevent a recurrence of this tragedy, to build a really solid peace, a lasting peace. (Stormy, prolonged applause.)

p We all note with satisfaction that certain positive changes have lately taken place in the European political climate. We give credit to the governments of those capitalist countries who respond to our efforts in seeking a detente in European affairs, peaceful cooperation and greater security on the continent. In this connection I should like to dwell on the significance of the treaty which was signed by the Soviet Union and the Federal Republic of Germany on August 12 of last year.

p It is claimed in some quarters in the West that under this treaty the FRG is making “concessions” to the Soviet Union. In our opinion, however, our commitments under the treaty of August 12 are no less, if not even more, important for the FRG than its analogical commitments are for the Soviet Union. This applies equally to the pledge not to use force, not to encroach on the present frontiers, and to be guided in mutual relations by the provisions of the UN Charter. Consequently, it is not a matter of one-sided concessions—there are none on either side—but a question of the political substance and general purport of the treaty.

p To those people in West Germany who indulge in political speculation about the treaty with the Soviet Union we would like to say one thing: the inviolability of the frontiers of the Soviet Union, the GDR, Poland, Czechoslovakia and other fraternal countries is assured irrespective of whether or not there is such a treaty; it is assured by the united might of the Warsaw Treaty states. (Stormy, prolonged applause. All rise. Resounding cheers.)

p The treaty with the FRG can and must, once it comes into force, usher in a new chapter in the FRG’s relations with the Soviet Union, give wide scope to mutually advantageous cooperation in the economic and other fields. But that is not all. The coming into force of the Soviet Union’s and Poland’s treaties with the FRG will in many ways create a new political atmosphere in Europe. This, it may be presumed, will considerably improve conditions for promoting 480 normal relations between West Germany and the European socialist countries, for developing fruitful cooperation between East and West European countries in general, and for settling major problems relating to European security. (Applause.)

p The situation is this: there have now appeared in the West realistically-minded circles that want to see European peace strengthened. Their activities, however, are coming under increasingly furious attacks from certain quarters. The peace-loving peoples see this picture and they cannot but draw conclusions from it.

p A word about the next door neighbour of your capital— West Berlin. As you know, the joint, coordinated efforts of the Soviet Union and the GDR are directed towards making West Berlin cease being a detonator of tension and crises, towards ensuring normal conditions of life for this city and its population, naturally with due consideration for the lawful interests and sovereign rights of the German Democratic Republic. (Prolonged applause.) We believe that the present talks on West Berlin have above all helped to clarify the positions of the parties concerned. It is therefore logical that these talks are now entering the stage of discussion of concrete proposals concerning the contents of a possible agreement. I do not know about our partners in the talks, but we ourselves are ready to make efforts to bring the matter to a successful conclusion and to see to it that the agreement reached is effective and is carried out. (Applause.)

p I have dwelt, comrades, on some of the international issues which are of special urgency in the context of the efforts which the Soviet Union and the GDR are making to strengthen peace in Europe. The 24th Congress of the CPSU put forward a comprehensive programme of struggle for peace and international security, for the peoples’ freedom and independence. It defines the basic tasks and objectives of the Soviet Union’s foreign policy at the present stage. This programme takes into account the common interests of the states of the socialist community. We are grateful to the Central Committee of the SUPG and the GDR Government for actively supporting it. This is further striking proof of the unity of our foreign policy aims, of the purity and sincerity of our allied relations, relations of genuine socialist solidarity and friendship. (Prolonged applause.)

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p The strong friendship between the peoples of the USSR and the GDR is a great achievement of our Parties, the result of many years of purposeful efforts of the Communists of our two countries. (Applause.) Friendship is the soul of our alliance, which was forged in joint struggle for the triumph of peace and socialism. (Stormy applause.)

p Comrades,

p Our Parties and governments share with the entire socialist community their cares and interests, and constantly coordinate their foreign policy activities, and in this is displayed the profound internationalist spirit of their policies.

p The fraternal Parties are now making great efforts to extend the scale of economic integration of the socialist states. This is a matter of enormous political significance, a central link in the chain of development of world socialism. We are confident that the fraternal countries, guided by Marxist-Leninist theory and creatively developing and improving the methods of economic management and cooperation, will make effective progress in the business of socialist integration. (Applause.) And it can definitely be said that the German Democratic Republic will make its important contribution to the fulfilment of this major task. (Prolonged applause.)

p Dear friends,

p Allow me heartily to wish you and all the working people of the German Democratic Republic further success in the building of a developed socialist society, to wish you happiness and prosperity. (Stormy, prolonged applause.)

p Long live the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, the guiding force of the German workers’ and peasants’ state! (Stormy, prolonged applause. All rise. The Congress delegates and guests remain standing till the end of the speech.)

p May the indestructible friendship between the peoples of the Soviet Union and the German Democratic Republic grow stronger! (Stormy applause.) May their all-round cooperation and their fraternal alliance grow closer! (Stormy, prolonged applause.)

p Long live the growing community of the fraternal socialist countries, mankind’s vanguard in the struggle for peace, democracy and social progress! (Stormy, prolonged applause.)

Long live communism! (Stormy, prolonged applause, ’the audience scan "Friendship!”, "Long live the CPSU!”, "Hurrah!”)