marx in our time

Giocondo Dias General Secretary, Central Committee Brazilian Communist Party Comrades and Friends, We regard this conference as a gathering of historic importance representing an outstanding contribution to the struggle for social progress and peace. We therefore wish to extend our greetings to you and, above all, to thank the Socialist Unity Party of Germany for providing the opportunity of our coming together. This initiative launched by the comrades of the SED clearly illustrates their consistence in applying the Theses proposed for the Karl Marx Year, because this conference is dedicated to peace....

David H. Meroro National Chairman, South West Africa People’s Organization (Namibia) Comrade Chairman, Dear Comrade Erich Honecker, The Distinguished General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany and Chairman of the Council of State of the German Democratic Republic, Esteemed Comrades and Dear Friends, I have the honour to represent Comrade Sam Nujoma, President of SWAPO and the embattled Namibian people at this truly historic international gathering which the Socialist Unity Party of Germany has organized to commemorate the one hundred and sixty-fivth (165) birthday as well as the centenary of the death of Karl Marx....

Abou Hatem Deputy Head, Political Department, Executive Committee, Palestine Liberation Organization Member, Palestine National Council Comrades and Friends, It gives me pleasure to express deep gratitude and high appreciation to the Socialist Unity Patty of Germany and its General Secretary, the esteemed comrade Erich Honecker, on behalf of the Palestine Liberation Organization, for inviting us to attend this important conference. Thank you for making such a great effort in organizing this conference, and for the hospitality and cordial reception given us since our arrival in this friendly socialist country....

Erich Honecker General Secretary, Central Committee, Socialist Unity Party of Germany, Chairman, Council of State, German Democratic Republic Comrades, Distinguished Guests, A hundred years ago, when Karl Marx, the great thinker and revolutionary, had closed his eyes for ever, Friedrich Engels, his friend and companion throughout a lifetime of struggle, declared that his name and work would endure through the ages. These prophetic words are proving true in our challenging and turbulent age as the human condition undergoes a radical transformation on all continents and the human race summons all its energies to banish the spectre of self-annihilation in a nuclear holocaust....

Kim Chung Rin Member, Politbureau, Secretary, Central Committee, Korean Workers’ Party Distinguished Comrades, At first, I’d like to thank you, distinguished Comrade Erich Honecker, for the invitation to our delegation to the International Theoretical Conference on the occasion of the 165th birth anniversary and the death centenary of Karl Marx. The delegation of the Workers’ Party of Korea is pleased to participate in this conference and pays the highest tribute to the great leader and teacher of the international working class, Karl Marx, for his immortal service to the cause of the liberation of mankind....