www.icsbrussels.org , ics[at]icsbrussels.org
60 communist and workers’ parties and organizations, coming from 45 countries, participated in the thirteenth International Communist Seminar (ICS), hosted by the Workers’ Party of Belgium in Brussels, from May 2 to 4, 2004. An additional 67 parties and organizations were unable to attend (among them several due to visa problems), sent a solidarity message or showed interest in the Seminar.
The 2004 ICS tackled the "Strategy and tactics in the struggle against global US imperialist war", with as sub-themes "US imperialism today, the number one enemy of the workers and the peoples of the world", "Today’s struggle against global US imperialist war" and "The tasks ahead for the communists".
The General Resolution adopted at last year’s ICS was discussed, updated and amended to become the Declaration of the International Communist Seminar 2003-2004, with as title "Workers and peoples of the world, let us unite against imperialism, in particular US imperialism, its policies of aggression and its preparations for a new world war!". Compared with last year’s resolution (entitled "Peoples of the world, let us unite against US preparations of a Third World War!"), the 2003-2004 Declaration contains a few major changes. First, as can be seen in the title, the Declaration calls to fight imperialism as a whole and not only US imperialist global war, although the latter remains specified as a new, strategic and most dangerous development that should orient our actions. Secondly, it is now clear that the US policies of aggression are being met with important limitations and fierce resistance, particularly in Iraq. But this in no way diminishes the US war drive, to the contrary. Thirdly, a chapter was added on the sharpening contradictions, both on economic and military issues, between US hegemonism and European imperialism. Fourthly, a paragraph on the worsening suppression of democratic rights was added. And finally, working class leadership in the fight against imperialism was stressed.
The Seminar participants decided to hold the Fourteenth International Communist Seminar from May 2 to 4, 2005 with as theme "The Leninist party, and the experience of the Third International".
In the margin of the Seminar, two international solidarity meetings were held. On the evening of May 3, communist and workers’ parties and organizations gathered to discuss concrete solidarity with socialist Cuba, in the presence of Comrade Abelardo Curbelo, responsible for the relations with Europe in the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba. 27 additional parties or organizations attached their signature to the Statement of Solidarity with Cuba that resulted from the Conference of European Communist and Workers’ Parties in solidarity with socialist Cuba that was held in Brussels on October 5 last year. All in all, 41 communist and worker’s parties and organizations from Europe and 31 from outside Europe have signed the Statement so far.
On the evening of May 4, a similar gathering was held on solidarity with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in the presence of Comrade Pok Hyon Bo, the DPRK’s Ambassador in Germany, representing the Workers’ Party of Korea. 22 delegations present decided to send a solidarity telegram to the DPRK’s leader, Comrade Kim Jong Il.
Several delegations that attended the International Communist Seminar were still in Brussels on May 6 to attend the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnamese people’s decisive victory over the French colonizers at Dien Bien Phu, organized by the Workers’ Party of Belgium. The well-attended meeting included film showing, an exhibition, poetry reading, a Vietnamese song and several speeches, and was graced by the presence of Madame Phan Thuy Thanh, Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Belgium.
All contributions and the Declaration of the ICS 2004 will be available on the website www.icsbrussels.org by the end of May 2004.
International Communist Seminar
Brussels, May 2-4, 2004
Registered as participant:
Afghanistan
Albania
Bahrain, Kingdom of
A people’s organization from Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belgium
Benin
Bulgaria
Canada
Congo, Democratic Republic of
Cuba
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
France
Germany
India
Indonesia
Iran
Italy
Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Moldova, Republic of
Nepal
Netherlands,The
Niger
Norway
Palestine
Peru
Philippines
Russia
Slovakia
Sweden
Syria
Turkey
United Kingdom
USA
Venezuela
Yugoslavia
Colombia
Germany
Hungary
Mexico
Philippines
Spain
United Kingdom
Venezuela