23 September 2003
The South African Communist Party (SACP) sends its warmest revolutionary and comradely greeting to the Tudeh Party of Iran and the toiling people of Iran as it holds its 5th Congress. As Communists on the African continent, we share closely and deeply the vision of your Party for a socialist Iran, Middle East and world.
We hope and trust that your Congress will pay attention to urgent questions facing the Iranian revolution, the complex problems facing the Middle East and massive challenges facing all progressive forces in the world.
Of concern to all of us is the dangerous phase entered by imperialism through increased militarisation and unilateralism as witnessed by the recent illegal invasion of Iraq and external imposition of a government on the people of Iraq. We support the call of the Iraqi Communist Party for a democratic solution to Iraq based on the democratic and sovereign will of the people of Iraq.
Recently the United Nations Security Council passed an important resolution rejecting the decision of the Israeli government to expel Comrade President Yasser Arafat from his land of birth. This resolution is a timeful reminder of the urgency to resolve the Palestinian question justly and decisively in favour of a sovereign Palestinian State based on the will of the people. This requires the intensification of international solidarity with the people of Palestine and international pressure against Israel and its major western supporters.
We are also acutely aware that the renewal and democratisation of Africa, and the building of social justice the Middle East, Asia and the world as a whole is not sustainable and possible without the building a conducive international environment based on fair world trade, international peace, non-interference, peaceful resolution of conflicts amongst nations, democratisation and transformation of multi-lateral institutions, subordination of multi-national corporations and the profit logic to people' s interests and basic needs.
The abstinence of the US and Europe at the recent Cancun World Trade Organisation talks is a practical demonstration of the massive challenges faced by developing countries and progressive forces the world over. The growing anti-war and anti-globalisation mass mobilisation are important in this anti-imperialist struggle and international working class solidarity. We hope and trust that your Congress will play an important role in dealing with all these important questions of our contemporary period.
As South African Communists, working together with our allies, poor and working people of our country, we express our solidarity and best wishes to your Congress, your Party, the people of Iran and the Middle East.
With these few words we wish your Congress every success.
Amandla! Intifada!
BLADE NZIMANDE
GENERAL SECRETARY
SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY