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p December 7, 1971

p Dear delegates to the Congress,

p Dear comrades, friends and brothers,

p The delegation of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union highly appreciates the opportunity to be present here among our Polish friends and to feel the solemn and at the same time businesslike atmosphere of the Congress of the Polish United Workers’ Party. Participation in the work of fraternal Party congresses is always a source of fresh experience: after all, a Party congress is something of a concentrated expression of the life and struggle of the Communists of the given country.

p Allow me, comrades, on behalf of the CPSU Central Committee, on behalf of fourteen and a half million Soviet Communists, on behalf of all the working people of the Soviet Union to convey to your Congress, to all the Communists and the people of Poland our wholehearted friendly greetings and wishes of success in your great and responsible work. (Prolonged applause.)

p These wishes express the profound and sincere feelings of Soviet people for fraternal Poland. This is not only because our countries are close neighbours, or because of their kindred languages and culture. It is also because our friendship has been literally forged.in the common sufferings of the working people of the two countries. They have cherished, developed and defended it in trying historical conditions, while the exploiting classes and the rulers were doing everything by their self-seeking policies to spread strife and hostility.

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p Our friendship has been tempered in the flames of the battles for liberation which the best representatives of the two peoples fought against their oppressors, and for national and social freedom. The community of their aims was well expressed over one hundred years ago by Alexander Herzen, outstanding Russian writer and revolutionary. During the Polish uprising against the tsarist oppression he wrote: "We are with Poland because we stand for Russia. . . . We want Poland’s independence because we want Russia’s liberty.” (Prolonged applause)

p The class solidarity of the working people of Poland and Russia was raised to a new stage as a result of the revolutionary struggle of the Communists, and the activity of the great Lenin and his associates, a prominent place among whom belongs to that legendary knight of the revolution, Felix Dzerzhinsky. (Applause.}

p The historical achievement of our Parties consists in the fact that by their activity they have strengthened SovietPolish friendship, filling it with new content and uniting the efforts of the peoples of Poland and the Soviet Union in the struggle for the triumph of socialism and communism. We can say that the Communists of the two countries have made the flames of our friendship burn ever more brightly with the warmth of their hearts and of their revolutionary convictions. No wonder that we all so highly cherish and value Soviet-Polish friendship!

p Comrades! The workers, peasants and all the other working people of the socialist countries have shown great trust in the Communists by putting into their hands the political leadership of society. This trust puts a great responsibility on our Parties.

p We Communists bear the responsibility for the destiny of our country, for the right course of socialist development, for the people’s living standards, for the fostering of men, especially the young, in the socialist spirit, and for the country’s security. To understand the objective requirements of society at the given stage at the right moment, to find the best solution for mature problems, the way of overcoming the difficulties that arise, and the ways and forms of the most rapid advance and to do so at the right time—all these tasks fall on the ruling Communist Parties.

p Naturally, these tasks are not easy, just as the very endeavour to build a fundamentally new society is not easy 493 and is in fact even extremely complicated. These tasks can in fact be fulfilled only on the basis of the great MarxistLeninist teaching, on the strength of the time-tested laws of socialism, creatively applying and developing revolutionary theory in the conditions of one’s country, relying on the support of all the working people, and advancing in common militant array with the fraternal socialist countries.

p Historical experience shows that in the great endeavour of socialist construction some failings and mistakes, sometimes even serious ones, are not ruled out. But the important thing is that they do not at all spring from the nature of socialism as a social system, not from its aims or fundamental principles, but are, on the contrary, the occurrence of some deviation or some violation of these principles. That is why the ability to take a critical view of one’s own activity and to draw the necessary practical conclusions is also one of the important forms of the Communists’ struggle for socialism and communism, and is the style of work bequeathed to us by V. I. Lenin. (Prolonged applause.)

p When studying the Report of the PUWP Central Committee and hearing the programme statement by the First Secretary of the Central Committee one obtains an especially clear view of the great, difficult and glorious way which your Party has travelled. Allow me to tell you, dear comrades, that the Soviet Communists are aware of the full significance of the impressive achievements of the Communists and all the working people of Poland in developing socialist social relations, the socialist economy and culture.

p We respect the principled and courageous approach of the PUWP in correcting the negative phenomena which occurred. We clearly see the great and sincere concern for the interests of the working people, for constantly strengthening the ties with the mass of working people displayed by your Party, by its Central Committee, headed by a true son of the Polish working class, our friend and comrade, Edward Gierek. (Stormy applause.)

p Dear friends! It has already been said here, at the Congress, that the Party still faces many complex tasks—in the economy and in ideology, in town and country. But we firmly believe that your Party, continuing to be invariably loyal to Leninism, pursuing a clear, consistently 494 revolutionary, realistic policy, expressing the vital interests of the working people, will successfully fulfil its tasks and will live up to the Polish people’s trust with honour. (Applause.)

p The Party of Polish Communists is a truly internationalist party, and a major fighting contingent of the international communist movement. From this high rostrum the CPSU delegation would like to emphasise with a sense of special appreciation the importance of the vigorous activity of the Polish United Workers’ Party aimed at strengthening the socialist community and developing all-round cooperation between the socialist states. This is our common concern, comrades, a concern of all the fraternal countries and Parties.

p Questions of the further cohesion of the world socialist system and unity of action by the socialist countries were central issues at the 24th Congress of the CPSU. They were circumstantially dealt with at the recent congresses of the Bulgarian, Czechoslovak, German, Hungarian and Mongolian Communists. We see these same problems considered at your Congress as well. This is in fact quite natural. It is evidence that the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the Polish United Workers’ Party and the other fraternal Parties sensitively tespond to the requirements of our time, working actively to consolidate and further develop the main, principal line in the development of world socialism— the tendency to unity and cohesion.

p This is expressed in everything—in our concerted policies in the international arena, in our vigorous advance of the cause of economic integration, and in the co-ordination of our efforts in the ideological sphere. This is also strikingly expressed in the broad and massive contacts between the Communists, between the working people of the fraternal countries, in the constant exchanges of knowledge, and the comparison of each other’s experience and practice.

p Living and direct contacts between tens and hundreds of thousands of men, builders of socialism and communism, have become commonplace for us. However, there is a profound historical meaning in this apparent commonplaceness: it is the laying of the foundation of the future worldwide brotherhood of nations. And we can say with a sense of great satisfaction that by strengthening Soviet-Polish 495 friendship and promoting the further consolidation of the socialist countries’ cooperation, the Communists of Poland and the Soviet Union are making their own, important contribution to this great cause. (Applause]

p Acting in close alliance with each other, the socialist countries are exerting an active and ever growing influence on the course of world events. Engrossed in our daily affairs we now and again even fail to observe how broad and effective this influence has become. It is strong not only because we are strong. There are other important factors as well which make others heed to our voice, whether they want to or not. One of these factors is that the foreign policy of the socialist community is principled and consistent, that it is a policy which the masses on all continents cherish and understand.

p To build socialism and communism we need peace. All peoples need peace. They do not want a repetition of the tragedy of the world war which inflicted on them countless losses and sufferings. People do not want to be killed or to see their cities turned to ruins, their villages burned down. That is why the policy of peace pursued by the Soviet Union and Poland, by all the fraternal socialist countries is a truly popular policy. (Prolonged applause.) We stand for peace, we want the coming generations never again to know the horrors of war. To the achievement of this noble aim we bend our whole international authority, all our might.

p In the struggle for peace we have millions upon millions of allies in all countries. But we have no right to forget that there exist forces deeply hostile to the cause of peace. That is why our countries’ active peaceable policy includes resolute rebuffs to the actions of the aggressive imperialist circles. We are sure that the Polish people, like the peoples of our country, are well aware that the socialist countries can follow no other line.

p The defensive alliance of the socialist countries was set up here, in Warsaw, 16 years ago. We took this step for this sole purpose: to prevent the outbreak of another war. It was a counter-measure to NATO’s aggressive preparations, to the attempts to talk to us in tones of strength. All these years the Warsaw Treaty Organisation has reliably served the peaceful interests of the fraternal countries, helping to turn the course of events in a direction more 496 favourable for the peoples. The combat brotherhood of the Soviet Army, the Polish Army, and of the armed forces of the other Warsaw Treaty countries continues to be even today one of the most important factors helping to cool the hot-headed aggressors, a factor helping to preserve peace. (Prolonged applause.}

p The Communists of Poland, the Soviet Union and the other fraternal countries always remain true to their internationalist duty in any trials. The mighty power of socialist internationalism is most visually expressed in time of acute international crises, and these have been many in recent years.

p In fulfilment of our internationalist duty, we are giving extensive and effective support to the courageous patriots of Vietnam in their struggle for freedom and independence, and against imperialist aggression. On every sector of this struggle—military, political and diplomatic—the Vietnamese people can always rely on the assistance of their friends. In fulfilment of their internationalist duty, the socialist countries are doing everything to upset the plans of the Israeli invaders and their patrons, to help the Arab peoples to safeguard their legitimate rights, and to help establish a just peace in the Middle East.

p For all the tricks and dodges of bourgeois propaganda, for all the efforts of anyone to slander our policy, the peoples of the world realise and understand with ever greater clarity that in our day the militant solidarity of the socialist countries, their firm and implacable attitude towards imperialist aggression and every form of international piracy is one of the main pillars of peace, and the security and freedom of nations. (Prolonged applause.)

p Like all the proponents of peace and freedom of nations we have learned with profound regret of the armed conflict which broke out these days between two neighbouring countries in Asia and of the developments which brought the conflict about—a bloody suppression of the basic rights and clearly expressed will of the people of East Pakistan and the tragedy of ten million refugees. The Soviet Union acts firmly in favour of putting an end to the bloodshed, for the peaceful political settlement of the problems which have arisen, with due regard given to the just rights of nations, without any interference of external forces, for 497 establishing conditions of a lasting and just peace in that region.

p Comrades! There has been no armed conflict in Europe for over more than a quarter-century. This is in itself a great achievement of the peaceable states, a great gain of the European nations. But this peace has not been strong. Europe has been in a "cold war" fever. Now and again the line between political struggle and armed clash became fragile and unstable. The security of nations demanded an end to the "cold war" and elimination of its consequences. That is exactly what the socialist part of Europe advocated with the utmost vigour.

p We have never believed, and do not believe at this moment, that detente, cooperation and security in Europe can be advanced without reciprocal efforts on both sides, East and West. The more realism there is in the policy of the Western countries, the greater our common possibilities to continue further to improve the situation in Europe, paving the way for fundamental agreements in the interests of European and international security. An example of this is the development of the relations between the Soviet Union, Poland and a number of other socialist countries with France. Another example is the incipient turn in our relations with the FRG. Yet another example is the recent understanding on the questions of West Berlin.

p The treaties of the Soviet Union and the Polish People’s Republic with the FRG, the four-power agreement on West Berlin and the working out of the agreements between the GDR, the FRG and the West Berlin Senate on the related questions, the growing recognition of the need for admission of the GDR and the FRG into the United Nations, settlement of the problems existing between Czechoslovakia and the FRG, which we hope will be reached by the two sides—all this leads up to the completion of the postwar period of European development. The foundations are being laid for Europe’s transition to a new historical phase which, we believe, will develop in an atmosphere of peaceful coexistence and mutually advantageous co-operation. And it is at this turning point that an all-European conference on questions of security and cooperation assumes a special importance.

p Such a conference is designed to strengthen the foundations of a peaceful life on our continent. These foundations, 498 in our opinion, are undeviating observance of the inviolability of the present borders, non-interference in domestic affairs, equality, independence and the repudiation of the threat or use of force. Not long ago the Soviet Union and France signed a document expressing precisely this approach to European affairs. We feel that all the states and nations of Europe would only stand to gain if such principles were generally accepted as rules of international life in the whole of Europe. Is it not perhaps worth giving substantial thought to such a possibility?

p Incidentally, the North Atlantic bloc Council is to meet in regular session in Brussels shortly. Its decisions will make it possible to judge whether the NATO countries are in fact prepared to square their practical acts with the will of all the European nations for peace, whether they are prepared to respond to our call for an easing of international tensions and strengthening mutual trust and European security. If they are prepared to do so, the best way of proving this is to join the other European states in the practical preparations of an all-European conference which, we believe, could well be called as early as 1972.

p Needless to say the positive changes taking place on the European continent have not produced any illusions among us Communists. We are well aware that reactionary militaristic revenge-seeking circles still continue to act in capitalist Europe. They should like to occupy decisive positions in their countries by any possible means and to try to hurl Europe back to the "cold war" period. All this puts on us the duty to be highly vigilant and politically active. All this calls for consistent effort in carrying to fruition the constructive initiatives and actions which hold promise of turning Europe into a continent of peace and good- neighbourhood.

p This, comrades, is an undertaking of great historical importance. In its influence on other parts of the world and the world situation as a whole it goes far beyond the European framework itself. There is no doubt at all that a radical improvement of the political climate in Europe and a solution of mature all-European problems, including troop and arms cuts, would meet the interests of all mankind.

p The fraternal Communist Parties pay due tribute to the efforts of the Polish United Workers’ Party, which 499 throughout the postwar period has invariably and actively worked to strengthen European and international security, to eliminate the hotbeds of the war danger, and to bring about disarmament and the development of peaceful cooperation between nations. Poland reborn, socialist Poland, has taken a fitting place in world politics. (Applause.)

p Gone for good are the days when the people of Poland constantly had to fear for their freedom and independence, for the integrity of their state. Today, the inviolability of the Polish borders is ensured by the alliance of Poland and the USSR, the German Democratic Republic and the other fraternal countries, by the whole defence might of the Warsaw Treaty countries. Now that the Polish people have firmly taken the socialist path, now that they have joined the solid family of socialist countries, Poland’s freedom and independence are guaranteed finally and infallibly. (Stormy, prolonged applause.)

p Dear Polish friends! The Communist Party of the Soviet Union and all Soviet people are now working to implement the decisions of the 24th Party Congress. A few days ago we approved the current five-year plan. Its main task is to bring about a considerable rise in the people’s material and cultural level on the basis of high rates of development in socialist production, enhancement of its efficiency, scientific and technical progress, and accelerated growth of labour productivity. Our plan for national-economic development is also oriented on the further extension of economic cooperation between the Soviet Union and Poland, with all the fraternal countries.

p Successful fulfilment of the five-year plan calls for great effort, good organisation and discipline. The working people of our country realise this full well. They give their wholehearted and unlimited support to the line of their Leninist Party. We are sure that we shall cope with the tasks we have set and that we shall take another large stride on the way of communist construction.

p Dear comrades, the CPSU delegation has no doubts that the 6th Congress of the PUWP will become an important landmark in Poland’s socialist development and will make its contribution to the theory and practice of MarxismLeninism. We wish you great successes in building the socialist society, in developing industry, in raising the standard of living of the people, in fulfilling the plans set 500 Emacs-File-stamp: "/home/ysverdlov/leninist.biz/en/1972/FLC499/20070308/500.tx" by you for socio-economic development. We wish the whole Polish people happiness and prosperity. (Stormy, prolonged applause.)

p We are convinced that under the leadership of their Marxist-Leninist vanguard, the working class, the peasantry and the intelligentsia of Poland will ensure the complete victory for socialism on every front! (Stormy applause.)

p Long live the Polish United Workers’ Party, the inspirer and organiser of the construction of socialist society in your country! (Stormy, prolonged applause. All rise. Delegales and guests to the Congress remain standing as Comrade Brezhnev concludes his speech.)

p May the fraternal friendship of the Communists of our two countries, the solid alliance of the peoples of Poland and the USSR gain in strength and flourish! (Stormy, prolonged applause.)

p Long live world peace! (Stormy, prolonged applause.)

Long live communism! (Stormy, prolonged applause rising to an ovation)