Closing Resolution of the 3rd ICOR World Conference

I. The 3rd World Conference of the revolutionary world organization ICOR, founded in 2010, took place in Europe in the fall of 2017. Delegates from 31 member organizations from 28 countries, as well as five guest delegations took part. Further delegates could not attend because of reactionary visa regulations and/or massive repression in their respective countries.

II. The agenda and rules of procedure proposed by the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) were approved by mutual consent. Comrade Monika, MLPD, Germany (Main Coordinator of the ICOR), as well as the four Continental Coordinators were unanimously elected into the presidium. The Conference was very well organized by the Multilateral Organizational Staff composed of 75 comrades from six countries.

III. Since the 2nd World Conference the ICOR has grown in quantity and especially in quality; it now has 50 member organizations from 42 countries. In connection with the Solidarity Pact with the Kurdish people and the ICOR brigades to Kobane, the ICOR campaign on 100 Years October Revolution and the work of the Continental Coordinations many new relations arose. The ICOR has developed to become a stable revolutionary factor with growing radiance and has continued to mature with respect to organization as well as in an ideological-political sense. Relations of mutual trust have further deepened; this was expressed in a forward-looking proletarian culture of debate despite all remaining ideological-political differences. The Conference emphasized the requirement placed on all ICOR members as expressed in the Statute that “they have to cooperate respectfully and learn from each other for their joint struggle.”

IV. The first day focused on the introductory speech of the ICC held by the Main Coordinator and the following discussion on the economic and political situation and the tasks of the Conference. On the second day there was an intensive discussion on the work report of the ICC, which had already been submitted to all delegates for preparation. The work of the ICC was unanimously acknowledged as forward driving and the report was unanimously accepted after a lively and partially controversial discussion.

Important results and conclusions are:

1. The crisis-proneness of the imperialist world system has deepened significantly. All fundamental contradictions of the imperialist world system have intensified. We can by no means speak of a stabilization of the imperialist world system.

2. The international situation has undergone far-reaching changes. Among the imperialist powers there have been significant shifts in the power relations. Today's imperialist world is multipolar. US imperialism remains to be the strongest imperialist great power and the main warmonger. At the same time other imperialist great powers like China are developing, which are calling this supremacy into question with a lasting effect. The inter-imperialist contradictions have clearly intensified. The ICOR parties and organizations resolutely and consistently oppose all imperialist powers and US imperialism as the enemy of all peoples; in the imperialist countries, they see the main enemy in their own countries.

3. Die Conference discussed the theoretical generalization of the changes in the imperialist world system extensively. One main focus was the controversial discussion about the thesis of the MLPD on the emergence of new-imperialist countries. The Conference agrees that this debate must be continued. The time is ripe for a mass debate on imperialism and its development.

4. In Korea, Ukraine, the South China Sea, Syria and the Middle East (West Asia) dangerous hot spots of war are smoldering, which reflect the intensification of inter-imperialist contradictions and are seriously threatening world peace. The Conference condemns the aggressions of US imperialism and its allies against the Korean, Venezuelan and Cuban peoples, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as well as against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Cuba. That does not mean that the ICOR considers these countries to be socialist or is uncritical toward them. The ICOR will further develop the debate on the assessment of these countries.

5. Parts of the present peace movement consider Russia as an alliance partner or even as a peace power. The ICOR Conference criticizes that this is is a support of Russian imperialism. The Conference confirmed that the ICOR must draw a clear dividing line to social-chauvinism.

6. In Africa – currently in Mali, Niger and in Burkina-Faso – US American and French imperialist military forces are waging wars of aggression against the peoples. They are supported by Belgian, German and Dutch military units acting under the hypocritical pretense of fighting against Islamist groups. In reality their goal is their supremacy and the continued plundering of the mineral resources (mainly uranium).

7. The Conference sees a growing number of millions of refugees as a result of unstable imperialist reality. It condemns the oppression of refugees. In particular it condemns at present the actions of the Indian government which is interfering in neighboring countries. This had the consequence that the Rohingyas, already oppressed by Myanmar, are hounded even more.

8. The 3rd ICOR World Conference expresses its solidarity with and support of the struggles of the Palestinian people and its revolutionary forces. It denounces Zionism as the spearhead of US imperialism in the Middle Eastern region and the Zionist crimes against the Palestinian people.

9. The 3rd ICOR World Conference states that 100 years after the October Revolution women worldwide still lack equality, are subject to terrible patriarchal and social oppression and twofold exploitation. In many countries women rise up against murders of women, rape, poverty and lack of rights. The women and men within the ICOR organizations regard the struggle for the liberation of women as their very own task.

10. The Conference confirmed the stand and the role of ICOR in the struggle against the threatening global environmental catastrophe. The shift to the right by imperialist governments also has effects on the environmental question.

11. The reactionary character of imperialism is becoming more and more apparent, internally as well as externally. There has been an international shift to the right by governments. Openly reactionary, nationalist and proto-fascist governments were installed, like the Trump government in the USA. Under the pretext of the so-called 'anti-terror' struggle, fascization is being advanced, racist and proto-fascist and even fascist parties are becoming stronger. It is the attempt of the imperialists to hold up the further destabilization of the imperialist system and to prevent new crises and, in particular, revolutionary developments.

12. The 3rd ICOR World Conference takes the governments’ shift to the right and the strengthening of ultra-reactionary up to fascist forces very seriously, not least because through this shift a right-wing tendency within the social polarization has strengthened among the masses.

13. However, at the same time, imperialist policies are meeting with growing discontent worldwide. Many delegations reported about bitter struggles of the international industrial proletariat and mass struggles partly similar to uprisings already taking place, and protests against imperialist danger of war. The 3rd World Conference is preparing itself for unexpected events, upheavals, a significant upswing of class and mass struggles and of the struggle for national liberation, democracy and freedom. These struggles will only gain the perspective of socialism if there is a considerable strengthening of the subjective factor, of building consciousness, of raising the level of class consciousness. A growing number of people are raising the question of a societal alternative and must be given an answer.

14. This development leads to increasing demands, but also new opportunities for the ICOR and its member organizations. The building of strong revolutionary Marxist-Leninist parties with close ties to the masses in the single countries and their union in the ICOR as a part of the development of the subjective factor have utmost priority.

15. The 3rd World Conference supports Rojava and its democratic government. Recently, Raqqa was liberated from the murderous gangs of ISIS (Daesh) by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) under the leadership of the YPG. We support the Kurdish liberation movement against the attempts of imperialism to influence the revolutionary course in Rojava; we will continue to make come alive the Solidarity Pact between the ICOR and the Kurdish liberation movement.

16. The 3rd World Conference expresses its solidarity and protests against the arrest and trials against the revolutionaries of the PML-RC from Spain by the imperialist Spanish state, after the party had joined the struggle of the Kurdish national and democratic forces. We demand their immediate release.

17. In the case of the Spanish revolutionaries of the PML-RC and future massive repression of other revolutionary parties and organizations the ICOR will organize worldwide days of action.

18. We also express our solidarity and protests against the TKP/ML trials in Munich whose target are ten socialists of the ATIK, who have been kept in solitary confinement for more than two and a half years; they were arrested on the basis of counterrevolutionary collaboration between the fascist Turkish state and the imperialist German government as well as four other European governments, solely because of their communist convictions.

V. The 3rd World Conference by mutual consent agreed on the following 10 points as a program for the work of the coming years until the 4th World Conference:

1. Ideological-political initiative to enlighten the masses and deepen the understanding of the parties and organizations about imperialism and its development: publication of texts, discussion on the website, seminars on a continental and regional level.

2. Confirmation of the ICOR decision on continuous work – joint implementation of the days of struggle and corresponding exchange of experience; monthly reports on the website on party building and class struggle in the respective countries; active continental work; strengthening coordination and gearing toward actual practical coordination and cooperation; offering more forces for ICOR work, translation, office work, website etc. Improvement of the website, its diversity and language diversity.

3. Initiative for organizing the youth of the world; exchange of experience and cooperation of the youth leagues of the ICOR organizations; propagating revolutionary models from the ranks of the ICOR organizations. Organizing new international brigades where necessary, and an African youth conference.

4. Increased exchange of views and experience on party building in the continents.

5. Winning of numerous new organizations and parties for the ICOR and their introduction to the principles and methods of work of the ICOR.

6. Initiative for an anti-imperialist, antifascist united front joining forces especially against the increased danger of war, the governments’ shift to the right, the fascization of the state apparatuses; racism and chauvinism; the threatening environmental catastrophe; for the struggle for democracy and freedom, unwavering solidarity against growing repression; support of working-class struggles, struggles for women's rights, antifascist activities.

   Talks, beginning practical cooperation and the building of trust on a worldwide, continental, regional and country level.

7. Strengthening financial independence; the continents, too, must strive to finance their work themselves; regular payment of membership contributions and increasing them; donation activities for the ICOR and creative financing projects like tourism, handicrafts etc.

8. Promotion of the World Peasants' Conference as worldwide meeting and its international financing in solidarity as well as the further promotion of the International Miners' Conference, the International Automotive Workers' Conference and the World Women's Conference of grassroots women.

9. Further up-to-date positioning of the ICOR with resolutions on the burning issues of the times. Accelerated process of decision-finding.

10. The ICOR stands for socialism. This left, revolutionary and socialist alternative must gain support in the entire world, multiply its attractiveness and convince and inspire the masses as the project of the future!

VI. The MLKP Turkey-Kurdistan is appointed responsible for the ICOR construction in the Middle East in close cooperation with the CCC Asia and at the same time closing ranks with the African organizations. In this function MLKP takes part as guest in the ICC meetings.

VII. The Conference adopted the financial report and, after the report of the auditors, discharged the Financial Officer in respect to bookkeeping. The report made clear that the principle of financial independence has been realized better and better. However, the future tasks mean enormous challenges for joint financial activities!

VIII. The 3rd World Conference honored comrade Stefan Engel who, in 2016, had to withdraw for health reasons from the ICC. As long-standing Main Coordinator he significantly and in a future-oriented way molded the founding of the ICOR, its first years of construction, its ideological-political foundations, its practical cooperation and coordination, and its far-sightedness, principles and culture of debate.

IX. The 3rd World Conference passed resolutions on:

• Solidarity with the Rojava revolution!

• Solidarity with the resistance against the Erdogan dictatorship!

• Solidarity with Palestine!

• Solidarity with the revolutionary fighter Georges Ibrahim Abdullah!

• Solidarity with the political prisoners in Morocco!

• Solidarity with the toiling people of Catalonia!

• Solidarity with the workers in Iran!

• Solidarity with the Main Coordinator of the ICOR, Monika Gärtner-Engel!

• Solidarity with the Rohingya people!

• The struggle of the Venezuelan people has stopped fascism!

• Fight against imperialism and Hindu fascism – build people's movements!

• Resolution on the 50th anniversary of the Naxalbari uprising

• For an independent left force!

• For a new paradigm of development!

The Conference made smaller amendments of the Statute regarding the election of the continental representatives to the ICC which strengthen the ability to work as well as the rights of the continents.

X. The Conference elected a new ICC and an auditing commission. Comrade Monika Gärtner-Engel, MLPD, Germany, was elected as Main Coordinator, and Comrade Sanjay Singhvi, CPI/ML Red Star, India, as Deputy Main Coordinator.

XI. The 3rd World Conference was marked by a creative, critical and self-critical, frank and constructive debate. There was an atmosphere of solidarity; you could feel that mutual revolutionary trust has considerably grown among all participants.

A hundred years after the October Revolution the ICOR will use as yardstick for its work what Lenin said:

“For internationalism consists of deeds and not phrases, not expressions of solidarity, not resolutions.”¹

Workers of all countries, unite!

Workers of all countries and oppressed peoples, unite!

Down with the imperialist world system!

Forward with the ICOR!

Long live proletarian internationalism!

Forward towards socialism!