p Speaking about some of the questions that comrades have raised during the course of the last two days, I am reminded of the period of the birth of the socialism at the beginning of the century in the Soviet Union. It was a period of great differences in the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party and you are familiar with the debates that took place. There were many strong voices on Lenin’s table and very often there were sharply different opinions. It might also be said that this was a period of some of the most creative theoretical and practical work was done by the communists in the last century.

p Today and yesterday when comrades spoke and expressed different opinions about some of the problems that are facing us collectively and individually, I don’t regard this as the sign of weakness on our part but as a sign of the vitality of the movement of which we are all a part. The differences here represent different experiences of our parties in our countries and in some cases different conclusions that we have drawn - that is important, it reflects the unity of theory and practice, there is a dialectical relationship and shows that our movement is not only creative but it is also dynamic.

p One of the conclusions that communists in Canada are coming to and that has been expressed here by others, is that the period of transition from capitalism to socialism will be a very prolonged period historically short but in years it may be very long. Nevertheless, it raises the question of scientific and technological revolution, which in our view is the main reason for the temporary, but nevertheless extended life which capitalism has at this period. So we are studying the problems of the transition. One of the most 333 immediate problems’ we see is the question of building a democratic anti-imperialist front because socialism has lost the initiative, again temporarily. But nevertheless, the Soviet Union which internationally in the past, was able to draw the line on the sand and say this is where imperialism has to stop and can’t go any further. But with the collapse of the Soviet Union in particular, the other socialist states in Eastern Europe, this line on the sand was erased. And this has contributed to the situation where imperialism has its world order and ison the offensive against the peoples of the world, against the working class and the communist parties.

p So the question of a democratic anti-imperialist front is a very important question which I would like to look it at very briefly. The comrade from South Africa raised the question of Yugoslavia and the danger that is inherent in die present situation. But in our view, one of the reasons why imperialism has not moved into Yugoslavia inspiteoftheopportunities in the last months is becauseof the interimperialist rivalries and it would appear that some conclusion is being arrived at by the imperialist powers when they are now speaking quite openly about the military intervention in Yugoslavia. And the danger another comrade spoke that poses to the Balkans. It could become another flash point that will spread.

p This raises the question of the UN, which comrades have spoken about. It seems to me that this is a problem that we need to examine more dearly and extensively as well. I personally think that the United Nations is showing that it is no longer capable of developing into a truly representative body of the world’s peoples. Here too there is a void that has been created.

p If there is agreement and many comrades have spoken here about the need for a broad front internationally to develop then the question of what forces would be in it is important. In the advanced capitalist countries the question of the role of social democracy has become very sharp, certainly it has in Canada. One of the comrades here mentioned here that the period we are in is reminiscent to the period between the two wars. That reminds me of the 7th Congress and questions that were raised about social democracy, the new situation that we as a world movement are facing, particularly in the advanced capitalist countries, the crisis of social democray. It seems to me that social democracy is important strategically as well as to achieve socialism, at least in Canada it is. But there is no basis 334 for cooperation with social democratic party in Canada as it presently stands, although there is a basis for cooperation with the social democrats in the trade unions movement and the peoples movement And it seems to be a problem for us, how we can move from where we are to where we want to be and how we can move social democracy from the present positions of being conduit for neo-conservanve policy to stand in defence of working class in each country and internationally against the dangers of reaction and war.

p I too welcome the questions that have been raised, that perhaps may be regarded as controversial or questions that we haven’t spoken about in the past in a collective fashion. We agree, that the Communist Parties must speak frankly and constructively, with regard to our common problems. We also agree that we need internationally relations of equality. That the time when there was the hub and spokes, is a time that has passed. We also agree about the usefullness of a international meeting, however we do not yet see that the conditions are such that all those who should be at the table could be at the table. And we think it is important because of the signifincanceof an international meeting of communists, workers and revolutionary parties and all those who can be at the table should be at the table. Therefore we also think that, if it means waiting a little for that, it is worth the wait.

In conclusion, I would agree with those who pointed out that the new situation has created new contradictions for capitalism as well, not only for us. I think we should look at the victories secured by us in Guyana, in Cuba and South Africa. In Cuba in particular, the Communist Party of Cuba and the people are united and strong and it has to be made sure by all of us that it continues to remain a socialist country.