WFDY POLITICAL REPORT of the General Council Meeting,
January 2004, Larnaca, Cyprus

During the WFDY General Assembly, last March in Havana, Cuba, we had a deep analysis and discussion about the international situation. We reflected the present world situation, the imperialist attacks against the youth and peoples, the response of the world progressive movement with its struggle and actions and the role that WFDY has to play in the current situation. 

During these ten months after the Assembly we verified that the reality proves our analysis and reflection. Day by day it has been clear that this new world order has been deepening the youth and peoples problems, and that the answer is intensification of the popular and mass struggle against imperialism and war, for peace, democracy and social progress.  

The situation of young people allover the world is becoming worst and the effects of imperialist and neo-liberal policies are cruel. In a recent document of the United Nations (U.N.) we see the reality that the youth, almost half of all the entire world population, is facing extremely difficulties and inhuman conditions of life. Just as an example: one out of four young people face serious limitations imposed by the extreme poverty, the number of homeless youth is around 200 millions, 57 millions boys and 96 millions girls don’t know to read or to write. In addition the hunger, unemployment, dearth of health cares, poverty and misery still growing and affecting millions of people allover the world.

These are just some examples of the catastrophic effects of the imperialist policy that in its economic and political order has developed under the name of the “capitalist globalization”, an instrument of unprecedented exploitation and control of the peoples and national policies and resources by international capital and its mechanisms such as the G8, IMF, WTO, World Bank, GATS, etc.

This reality walks alongside with a bigger aggressiveness of the imperialism that uses all the means to achieve its goals, where the militarization and war assume an important role. The United States (U.S.) and its allies showed, with the “preemptive” war against Iraq, covered by the “war against terrorism”, the intention of imperialism to expand markets, win more profits, dominate the natural resources as oil, control the most important geo-strategic areas and eliminate any focus of resistance of the peoples. The arguments they have used are the existence and development of weapons of mass destruction and fight the terrorism, but the true is that after seven months of the beginning of the war they haven’t discovered any of this kind of weapons and proved any link to the terrorist organizations.

This war was one more step, after Yugoslavia and Afghanistan, in the effort of imperialism to impose its role and the capitalist system as the unique possible in entire world. In this war the imperialism showed its real face of aggression, injustice and barbarism. 

WFDY expresses its support and solidarity with the people of Iraq, welcomes the resistance put up by Iraqi people against the continuing occupation and demands the immediate termination of the invasion and occupation and the return of the international legal order with the transfer of the administration to the U.N. and then to a democratically elected by the Iraqi people government.

We reaffirm the urgent need for protection and respect by the whole international community to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq and for a decisive support of the Charter of the U.N. and the fundamental principles of International Law, in the benefit of peace, security and respect of human rights.

We also demand the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, the Balkan region and Guantanamo Bay, in Cuba.

The action and role of U.N. was completely passed over by U.S. and its allies. This situation assumes higher relevance by the fact of U.N. has attempted to legitimize the invasion after it happened. In this moment we reaffirm again our call for the immediate democratization and reform of the U.N. and all its institutions and the reaffirmation of its Charter and fulfillment of its responsibilities to human rights and international law.

With all the contradictions and inter-imperialists conflicts, the European Union (E.U.) has had a clearly position aligned with its imperialist interests and following the U.S. policies. The condemnation and the attacks against Cuba and the post-legitimization of the invasion of Iraq, namely by sending troops, are good examples of their role. We also underline the dangerous effects of these European policies on the international level

The E.U. continues to deepen its neo-liberal policies against the youth, workers and peoples in favor of the financial and economical profits of capitalist interests, developing its militarization, building a Euro Army and reinforcing the idea of a European Fortress with terrible effects in the countries that are E.U. members and other countries. The European Constitution (even with the non signature from the State Members) and the enlargement of E.U. are more steps to deep the neo-liberal policies inside E.U., the gap between its countries, and the intention of more exploitation of workers, peoples and youth. The forthcoming European Elections in June 2004, involving 25 European States, will be a very big ideological battle where many WFDY organizations will be deeply involved struggling against the neo-liberal visions and policies of E.U.

The youth, workers and peoples resistance in each country against these neo-liberal policies has been assumed highlight importance. The recent actions of Action-Thessaloniki 2003 and namely the E.U. counter summit in Greece were important moments of initiatives, conferences, protest mobilizations and demonstrations, opposing the imperialism and war, NATO, and E.U. neo-liberal policies against the workers and youth rights. On this framework we underline the importance of the mobilizations are being prepared in Istanbul, Turkey by the occasion of NATO summit, on June 2004 and the respectively involvement of WFDY organizations on this actions.  

Despite efforts by the international community and particularly by the United Nations to reach a viable solution to the Cyprus problem, the island remains divided as a result of the intransigence of Turkey and the lack of will on behalf of its western allies to exercise the necessary political pressure on Turkey. The second revised plan by the Secretary-General of the UN for a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem should be negotiated by the two sides in good faith, in order to bring about the necessary changes, which will be for the benefit of both the Communities, Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Such a development should lead to the establishment of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal Cyprus, on the basis of the UN Charter and relevant resolutions and international law.

On this difficult situation of bigger aggressiveness of imperialism has assumed special meaning the advances and achievements of progressive forces with its daily struggles and the important developments in some countries, namely the victory of progressive forces in the recent elections in Cyprus and the victory of left forces in Sweden against the Euro. It’s also important to underline the important role of progressive forces in the countries of Eastern Europe and U.S. that, under very difficult conditions, resist and struggle for peace, social progress and youth rights.   

The effects of the imperialist aggression in Africa assume special relevance. Despite the fact of some ethnic conflicts, and even those not all exclusively connected with racial phenomenon, the problems of the African people and youth are in the most cases result of the external interference of U.S. and its allies that try all the possible tactics to achieved the recolonization of the countries, dominate the natural resources and squelch the popular resistance. As example we have their involvement in the conflicts in Western Sahara, Sudan, Liberia, Congo, Sierra Leone and The Great Lakes area, in the exploitation of minerals and arms trade as well as the imposition of IMF and World Bank policies. We demand urgently the UN to organize free and fair referendum for Western Sahara people decide their future.

For the prevention of conflicts and instability in the continent (more recently the cases of Guinea Bissau and Sao Tome and Principe) it needs respect for and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, equitable distribution of wealth and access to economic advancement, active promotion of peace, preventive diplomacy and conflict resolution and an equitable international economic environment. The border conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia should be solved by the full implementation of the decision of the Boundary Commission taking it as final and binding.

WFDY supports the efforts that are being done by Zimbabwean people to economically emancipate themselves trough the land reform program against the attacks and impositions of imperialism and neocolonialism. WFDY therefore demands the immediate lift of the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and calls the whole progressive international community to provide maximum support to Zimbabwean people on their struggle. WFDY strongly believes that the interference by the British and American imperialism in the matters of Zimbabwe and other countries in Africa is seriously undermining the sovereignty of those nations and is escalating the violation of human and national rights.

WFDY strongly believe that the solution for the problems of the peoples of African countries and the achievement of social progress, democracy and peace demands the immediate end of the interference of imperialists potencies and the right of each people to decide their own future.

The relevance that assumes the problem of AIDS in Africa, affecting many thousands of young people, require from WFDY the intensification of the cooperation with our organizations and other African youth structures in its combat.

WFDY considers, during more than 56 years of conflicts between the Israeli and Palestinian people, that the aggression force, separation wall and settlements cannot solve the problems. You all know and have been witnessing the war machinery of Israel - supported by U.S. and its allies and not widely protested by the international community -, killing and committing massacres against the innocent Palestinian people, destroying their society and economy and devastating their territories, aggravated now with the separation wall they are building. WFDY condemns the Israeli attacks against the elected leadership of Palestinian people and their movements for self-determination, neglecting in arrogant manner the peoples view in the whole world, which shows the fascist nature of the Israeli government. WFDY condemns Zionism, the main policy of the sate of Israel, as a form of racism and imperialism. WFDY reiterates its position and its support to the struggle of Palestinians against the Israeli occupation, for an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and for the right of return of Palestinian refugees. WFDY consider that all the steps to achieve a solution must to have as main content the rights of Palestinian People, on the basis of the respective U.N. resolutions. WFDY believes that the way to peace and security for the both peoples is two states for two peoples.

We demand the immediate withdrawal of the Israeli occupation from Syrian Golan heights and Lebanese Sheba farms as well as from all the Arab occupied territory. WFDY strongly opposes and condemns the military aggression of 5 October 2003 carried out by Israeli government against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, such an activity provoked by U.S. imperialists expresses their plan to divide and dominate the region and their intentions to not build peace. WFDY strongly condemns the policy of U.S. government to support Israel to develop the weapons of mass destruction and demands that the region of Middle East including Israel should be a nuclear free zone. WFDY also reaffirm its demand to the withdrawal of Spanish colonial forces from the Moroccan towns of Seuta and Melila.

The basic human and democratic rights have been widely violated by the dictatorial regimes in Nepal, Bhutan and Burma. The king of Nepal trough a royal proclamation on 4^th October 2002 has snatched away the democratic rights of the people and has started a process of militarization in the country.  The military junta in Burma has been denying to respect the verdict of the people in the last general election. The king of Bhutan has been repressing its people who are fighting for democratic rights and has been evacuating them from the country since last 13 years. 

We express our support with the struggle of the Korean people and youth for their just cause to safeguard peace on the Koran peninsula, for the reunification of the country in an independent and peaceful way and for their national sovereignty according to the spirit of the June 15^th North-South Joint Declaration in Pyongyang, D.P.R. of Korea. The US administration is persisting hostile policy towards the DPRK and moves of nuclear war provocation, refusing the proposal of the DPRK to settle the nuclear issue peacefully. We strongly demand the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea as well as the immediate end of the nuclear threats, blockade and attacks against DPRK.

The resistance and struggle in Latin America against the serious economical crisis, motivated by the imperialist intervention, that uses various means like the Plan Colombia, Plan Pueblo Panama and FTAA to annex and strangulate the local economies and attack the sovereignty of the peoples has assumed important meaning in different countries. We also denounce the atempts to establish bilateral free trade treaties that U.S. is negociating with Chile and other Center America countries to impose FTAA.

We extend our solidarity with the Cuban youth and revolution and its conquests. Especially on a moment where the imperialist pressure, leaded by U.S., is threatening with the possibility of an invasion and war against Cuba, to become the blockade against Cuba more aggressive and persisting with the illegal prison of the five compatriots, our solidarity is even more important and necessary.

We salute the struggle of Venezuelan people and youth for the aims of the Bolivarian Revolution, and the goals they have achieved in the development and social progress of the country, strongly supported by the popular masses.  We reject the terrorist acts of imperialism against the Bolivarian Revolution and support the revolutionary organizations that are combating the cheatings made by the opposition in order to get referendum against it.

We congratulate and underline the growing of the resistance movement of progressive and left forces in Salvador, Guatemala and Brazil as well as the recent developments in Bolivia against the privatizations namely of natural reserves, supported by workers and people. We support the people from Salvador and salute the goals gained by FMLN that has serious possibilities and good conditions to dispute the victory on the presidential elections in the country.

The anti-imperialist struggle of youth and peoples for peace, national sovereignty, democracy and international cooperation is developing allover the world. The war against Iraq brought millions of people to the streets protesting against the invasion and war, for peace. On theses demonstrations and actions the participation of young people was very big and the WFDY organizations played a very important role in the dynamic that assumed these movements. The struggle for peace has been very important along the years and with these recent actions we face the challenge of the consciousness of the youth masses and focus the struggle against the enemies of peace, the imperialism.

The action and role of WFDY organizations in the struggle for the youth rights, for a new society, against imperialism, for social progress, for peace and national sovereignty is determinant. The reinforcement of our organizations and its activities in each country is the most important contribution to the consequent reinforcement of WFDY. We must to keep working hard to affirm its principles, positions and actions.  For this battle is necessary that each one of our representatives, in each country, in each town or place have the knowledge, the ideas and the clear concepts of our fight with the goal to increase our efforts and to reinforce and affirm the aims and actions of WFDY.

One of the main expressions of the anti-imperialist struggle leaded by the young people is the movement of the World Festivals of Youth and Students, initialized in 1947. The World Federation of Democratic Youth, among many other progressive and democratic youth structures and organizations, is working and doing all the efforts to organize and prepare the 16^th WFYS, on 2005. It’s not new that the World Festival of Youth and Students has been a target of the reactionary forces, which try to boycott and prejudice it. An expression of these attacks is the counter festival, so called World Youth Festival, which started in 1998 in Portugal, then Panama in 2001 and now planned for 2004 in Barcelona, Spain. WFDY strongly believes that an essential task on the fight against this offensive is the reaffirmation of the history, principles, character, and characteristics of the World Festival of Youth and Students as well as its successful accomplishment.

The imperialist forces have become more and more aggressive and they are unifying their actions in a new level. On the other hand freedom and justice loving people of the world are also launching various activities against the imperialist aggression. In each and every country there is resistance movement against the imperialism, especially from the young people. But these movements are not unified in the world level as effectively as it should be. So the main responsibility of WFDY at present is to unify these progressive forces on the basis of common cause and common interests and accelerate it against imperialism.

p TOP
t BACK