Statement by Gennady Zyuganov, Chairman of the CC CPRF
The top talking point in Russian society today is the anti-Russian sanctions of the USA and the European Union over the operation to liberate Ukraine from Bandera Nazism. The sanctions, of course, are severe, for they affect a wide range of economic, political, cultural and other ties with the USA and the EU.
However, it would be categorically wrong to say that the whole world condemns Russia. By now the attitude of the world community to the West’s attempt to organize a boycott of Russia has become clear. We should know not only those who support sanctions, but also those who are against them.
Among those who are against a boycott of our country are first and foremost the BRICS countries: Brazil, India, China and South Africa. They account for 43% of the planet’s population. China is the world’s number one economy in terms of GDP, India is in third place. In fact the whole of Asia does not want to take the side of the USA. The only exception is Japan, which has American occupation bases on its territory.
The leading Middle East countries – Pakistan, Iran and Turkey – are not enthusiastic about the boycott which America is forcing on everyone. The Middle East Arab countries, including those which have friendly relations with the USA, have declared their neutrality. The United Arab Emirates abstained at the UN Security Council which voted a resolution condemning Russia.
Latin America which has suffered more than anyone at the hands of USA imperialism, does not support sanctions. This applies not only to our longtime friends and allies – Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua – but to the largest and most influential countries: Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. The leading African country, the RSA, is against sanctions. So where is broad international condemnation of Russia?
Many former Soviet Union countries have also shown understanding of the situation that has taken shape. The leadership of seemingly unfriendly Georgia has decided against sanctions and military support for Bandera nationalists declaring that it does not want to hurt its own economy. The practical-minded Balts – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – who live on handouts from the EU and act as they are told by Washington, should think about their real interests and historical markets which are located in the East and not in the West. Poland and other East European countries would do well to think about it too.
Only the Europeans, duped by their own propaganda, and blindly obeying Washington’s commands, stubbornly refuse to understand that they are harming themselves above all. They profit hugely from trade and economic relations with Russia. And now they are walking away, inflicting heavy damage on their economies which already amounts to 250 billion dollars.
In Europe, too, there is no unanimity. Serbia has taken a firm stand in favor of continued cooperation with Russia. Voices of common sense are heard at the German Bundestag. For Europe is a net loser. The winner is only the USA which is hitting not only Russia, but its long-time economic rival, the European Union. We believe that before long this simple truth will sink in to the European politicians.
In the face of Western sanctions our country must, at long last, take vigorous measures to abandon the perilous course of economic dependence on energy export to the West and import of industrial goods. We must rebuild our own production which the American fifth column led by Yeltsin, Chubais and Gaidar were ruining for many years. The USSR used to be a leading world economy. There are no reasons why we cannot again become a prosperous country independent from NATO adventures.
The current conditions dictate a drastic change of the country’s socio-economic course in the interests of the whole people and a resurgence of our power. The CPRF program Ten Steps Toward a Worthy Life has concrete proposals to that end. We believe that the ideas of socialism, based on the vast Soviet experience, will enable Russia to overcome the toughest of sanctions.
Gennady Zyuganov