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A better life in a world of peace |

(Summary of the Report of the C.C. of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union to the 24th Congress of the CPSU, delivered by L. I. Brezhnev, general secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, on March 30, 1971.)

The years which have passed since the 23rd CPSU Congress were a period when Soviet people, carrying out the plans advanced by the Party, achieved major successes in all main directions of communist construction. The Soviet country succeeded in substantially ad- vancing in the direction which, in the final analysis, expresses the main pur- port of the activities of the CPSU — the further upsurge of the well-being and culture of the entire Soviet people.

In the sphere of interriational devel- opment, L. I. Brezhnev pointed out, these were years of great social and

‘ political changes, years of a sharp con-

frontation between the forces of peace, freedom and progress and the forces of Oppression, reaction and aggression. The planet’s horizon was time and again overcast with clouds of a mili- tary menace. However, the imperialist attempts received a resolute rebuff every time.

The Soviet Union’s international positions have become still more re- liable during these years, the role of the world socialist system has been en- hanced. The great alliance of the three main revolutionary forces of our time — socialism, the international working- class movement, and the national lib- eration struggle of the peoples — con- tinued to grow stronger and deeper.

FOREIGN POLICY

Expounding this section of the re- port, L. I. Brezhnev in the first place stressed that the Soviet Union is a peaceloving state and the peaceful na- ture of this state is determined by the very nature of the socialist system. He enumerated the aims of Soviet foreign policy as they were formulated by the 23rd CPSU Congress:

e Together with other socialist countries to ensure favorable interna- national conditions for building social- ism and communism;

e To strengthen the unity and co- hesion of the socialist countries, their friendship and fraternity; ;

e To support the national-liberation movement and to conduct all-round co- operation with the young developing countries;

e To consistently uphold the prin- ciple of peaceful coexistence of states with different social systems, to reso- lutely rebuff the aggressive forces of imperialism and to rid mankind of a new world war.

All the practical activities of the CPSU Central Committee in the sphere of foreign policy were directed at achieving these aims.

L. I. Brezhnev dealt with the prob- lems of the further cohesion and devel- opment of the world socialist system and relations with fraternal socialist countries and their Communist Parties.

The past five-year period, he pointed out, has greatly contributed to the treasure-store of the collective expe- rience of the fraternal socialist coun- tries and parties. During the past five years the economic potential of the socialist states has _ substantially grown, the political basis of socialism has consolidated, the well-being of the people has improved, culture and science have further developed.

_ China and USSR

Dealing with Soviet-Chinese rela- tions, he stated that during the past 18 months, as a result of the initiative shown by the Soviet side, symptoms of

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1971—PAGE 6

a certain normalization in the relations between the two countries have ap- peared. On the other hand, L. I. Brezh-

nev said, it stands to reason that we ©

cannot but see that the anti-Soviet line in China’s propaganda and policy con- tinues and, incidentally, the 9th CP of China Congress in its decisions con- firmed this line, hostile to the Soviet Union. -Condemning such a line of the Peking leadership, he at the same time said that an improvement in the rela- tions between the USSR and the People’s Republic of China would be in accord with the basic and lasting in- terests of both countries, the interests of socialism, the freedom of the peoples and the strengthening of peace. This is why, he said, we are ready to facili- tate in every way not only the normali- zation of relations but also the restora- tion of good-neighborliness and friend- ship between the USSR and the PRC, and express confidence that this, in the final analysis, will be achieved.

L. I. Brezhnev further dealt in detail with the political crisis in Czecho- slovakia which occupied no small place in the international events of recent years. This crisis convincingly showed that the fraternal unity of socialist

’ countries is the most reliable barrier

blocking the road to those forces which attempt to attack and weaken the so- cialist camp, to undermine and to bring to nought the socialist gains of the working people.

The peoples of the socialist countries will not surrender to anyone their revo- lutionary gains, the borders of the so- cialist community are inviolable.

Capitalist Crisis

L. I. Brezhnev spoke of the present- day imperialism which, he pointed out, is striving to adapt itself to the new situation in the world. However, adap- tation to new conditions does not mean the stabilization of capitalism as a sys- tem. The general crisis of capitalism continues to deepen. ;

Even the most developed capitalist states are not guaranteed against seri- ous economic upheavals. The monetary and financial system of capitalism is experiencing a crisis. The growth of inflation and unemployment has _be- come a constant feature.

During the past five-year period the foreign policy of imperialism has pro- vided new proof as to the invariability of its reactionary and aggressive na- ture. During the post-war years the growth of militarism on an unprece- dented scale is taking place in the capi- talist world, especially in the United States. During the past five years some 400,000 million dollars were spent in the U.S. alone for military purposes. |

Forces of Progress

L. I. Brezhnev further dealt with the characterization of those forces which oppose present-day imperialism and which strike the latter telling blows in the course of class battles.

The international working - class movement, as in the past, plays the role of the tested militant vanguard of the revolutionary forces. At the same time imperialism is subjected to ever greater pressure from forces which have developed from the national-liber- ation struggle, and above all on the part of the young independent and anti-imperialistic states of Asia and Africa. The main thing is that the struggle for national liberation has in many countries actually grown into the struggle against exploiting relations, both feudal and capitalist.

He stressed that success in the struggle against imperialism to a great deal depended on the cohesion of the anti-imperialist forces and above all, their vanguard — the world communist movement.

In this connection he spoke of the-

great importance of a number of inter- national meetings of representatives of Communist parties and especially of the Moscow 1969 Meeting, which was a major step forward along the road of strengthening the international unity of Communists and consolidation of all anti-imperialist forces.

L. I. Brezhnev‘then dealt in detail with major international problems which, due to their acuteness or im- portance for the future, demanded the special attention of the CPSU and the Soviet government.

Hotbeds of Wer

Turning to the situation in South- east Asia, he said that the so-called

Vietnamization of the war, i.e., the ~

plan for annihilating the Vietnamese with the hands of Vietnamese in the interests of Washington, the expansion of the aggression to Cambodia and Laos—all this will not extricate Amer- ica from the quagmire of the dirty war in Indochina. There is only one way to solve the Vietnam problem. It is clear- ly pointed out in the proposals of the government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and of the provisional revo- lutionary government of the Republic of South Vietnam, which the Soviet Union firmly supports.

Together with the fraternal socialist countries, he stated, we have done everything necessary to stop and con- demn the Israeli aggression. The. turn- ing down by Israel of the important peace initiatives with which the United Arab Republic recently came forth, the now openly advanced brazen claims to Arab territory most clearly show who is frustrating peace in the Middle East. At the same time the unseemly role of American imperialism and world Zion- ism as a tool of aggressive imperialist quarters is becoming ever more ob- vious.

The Soviet Union, L. I. Brezhnev de- clared, will in the future as well firmly support its Arab friends. Our country is prepared to participate together with other powers—the permanent members of the Security Council—in providing international guarantees for a political settlement in the Middle East.

Detente in Europe

Dealing in detail with the siutation in Europe, he said that an improvement in Soviet-French relations had impor- tant positive consequences for the en- tire course of European affairs. New prospects are opening up in Europe as a result of a substantial change in rela- tions with the Federal Republic of Ger- many, the treaties between the Soviet Union and Poland with the FRG most definitely confirm the inviolability of borders, including that between the GDR and the FRG and Poland’s west- ern border.

In connection with the ratification of the above-mentioned treaties, a sharp demarcation of political forces is taking place in West Germany. One can ex- pect that realistically thinking quarters

Delegates converge on the Palace of Congresses in the Kremlin.

Amn

in Bonn, and in a number of oth 4 Western capitals as well, will aes stand the simple truth: procrastinall 2 with the ratification would give Ti a new crisis of confidence as Tee the entire FRG policy, would dete ate the political climate in Europ® ie the prospects for a relaxation of Ih) national tensions. shee An all-European conference, the te n parations for which are being tran * red to the sphere of practical polit’ could serve for an over-all impl jj ment in the situation in Europe. fj, One of the most important inte ip) tional problems of the present 7 iit disarmament, L. I. Brezhnev declan , We have been striving for concrele 8 sults, for reducing the military © for not allowing that the peoples come accustomed to the arms race (ai putting an end to the arms race — Ent nuclear and conventional, for di8# i ment, including general and come disarmament, will in the future 9 jf, be one of the main aims of the iif ( ities of the CPSU and the Soviet * Ds in the sphere of foreign policy: 4 : An improvement in Soviet-Amey 7 relations would be in accord WY ig interests of the Soviet and Amel) peoples, with the interests 0 ales strengthening of peace. Neverth if, we cannot ignore the U.S. ag jm actions in different parts of the Nig Our principled line-as regards ‘ od talist countries, the USA inclu to consistently and fully carry gi practice the principles of peac®’ afin existence, to develop mutually. ® ji tageous ties, to cooperate wit gost countries which are prepared * peste in the sphere of strengthening oi) establishing stability in relatio “i them. ;

For Stable Peace fy

port L. I. Brezhnev dwelt on "igh ® concrete tasks of the struggle Tish. the aggressive policy of imp® ity for peace and international sec

liquidate military seats in and "Nd Asia and in the Middle East tho 4 facilitate a political settlement ” aoih i areas; to proceed from the fin@! d 4 nition of the territorial chanB® ‘oa

have taken place in Europe 48 ose Mg of the Second World War, ' (fii the convening and the success efi 0 all-European conference, to © styl i thing for ensuring collective 5°¢ 9g i)

Europe; to conclude treaties . si th

10) nuclear, chemical and pacteri? Si A rugs” if

weapons, to activize the § ace) yt stopping all types of the arms hot g 3 resolutions of the United Na jit) liquidating the remaining cO!P aii gimes should be fully carried 0 i festations of racism an oT et : should be subjected to genera’. rfl, and boycott; the Soviet unlof adsl to develop relations of mutual vs ; tageous cooperation in all sphe ive eth states which on their part © Bn this. ic t

ECONOMIC | POLICY i

: H La ie Just as V. I. Lenin predictty 3 economy is the main policy ory CPSU and the Soviet state, 0” gehiupt cesses of which to a decisiv’ We depend the forward advanc® “nd x society towards communis™ nal consolidation of the internati’, Fn tions of the Soviet social oo, :

In the economic sphere, nev declared, the main f past five-year period is that subs of the national economy h@ ‘nett WAN tially increased, its develOP”, ini accelerated and its qualitatlY™ ine” have improved. On the whol!