In answer to the Open Letter published in NSC regarding the holding of the 2^nd World Congress, as participants of the year 2000 Conference and the 1^st World Congress in year 2001 in Toronto, Canada, I will focus on the basic ones in your Open Letter.

The first point is about the bipartisan character of the International Council. I also share the same hopes as you comrades of the possible re-immergence in the Soviet Union of a genuine Marxist-Leninist Party. I do agree with your remarks that in order to reconstitute the Soviet Union, it needs a revolutionary proletarian force based on a massive movement of the population on its own territory.

The second point concerns the calling of a Second World Congress to be held in Toronto, Canada in 2004, for reasons that were explained in your Open Letter, chiefly because of the failed efforts to hold it in Europe.

The third point is the worry that "we have little assurance that we can expect a representative delegation from the ex-Soviet Union due to the economic and political situation there now." This makes your suggest that it should be held in Toronto, Canada but it might not get the success necessary. The warnings about the expenses that will be encountered, the possible visa problems that might arise at this unsettled political climate, that it should be considered to postpone the Congress until 2005

The fourth point is meant to assure everyone that there will be representatives from other parts of the world and the suggestion that the Congress should be held in Toronto where some of the problems can be solved more easily.

The last point is about the linkage between the "world of friendship, solidarity and peace with Soviet people, must be a broad front movement" This principle is that underlines this foundation is carried on by Northstar Compass as well as the International Council.

We feel that the four points mentioned above are the general framework that is expected to be followed by the 2^nd World Congress. Of course we have to worry about the finances, visa problems, question of a broad representation of delegates. I would like to add a fifth point to the above to be considered in preparation for the 2^nd World Congress.

Indeed, since my participation in the preparations of the 1^st Word Congress, I had doubts about the best way to be engaged in a movement with the goal of establishing the International Council for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People, taking into account the historical experience previous to the dismemberment of the Soviet Union and those of the Eastern peoples democracies. The question was – if the best ideas should be the revival of the International Communist Friendship and solidarity movements with an exclusive focus on the International ouncil for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People.

I would like to develop an argument, after following, although from the distance, such movements around the world and more closely the experiences of my country, Brazil. This is not only in relation to the ex-Soviet Union, but other movements alike in Brazil and in other countries, such as Cuba and others, Taking into account the present "globalized" world or the actual phase of imperialism, under the hegemonic mantle of the USA, the contents of communist friendship and solidarity movements should be centered on as broader scale, I mean the socialist movements of people. They should be designed for a general approach instead of specific referents. On the one hand, such efforts would allow a better concentration of efforts, while on the other hand, it would avoid specific focus and pulverization.

Hand in hand with such perspectives, I also argue that the non partisan and non exclusivist character of the communist international friendship and solidarity will more easily allow contacts and interaction with other non partisan movements around the world. I mention in this case the Communist Party of Belgium and Ecuador, or different parties in the same country. Also there are many trade unions and the international cultural organizations around the world. Its similarities are independent of its territorial, national, regional, sub regional or local.

Taking into account such considerations, I reassure my conviction that the 2^nd World Congress should be postponed until year 2005. But, the Executive Committee of the International Council and the Editorial Board of Northstar Compass should be maintained until the next Congress. Meanwhile, a debate forum should be launched through the pages of Northstar Compass about:

(a) the goals of the next Congress, taking into account the ideas I presented, especially in the transformation of the International Council for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People, based in Toronto, Canada – into the International Council of Friendship and Solidarity with Peoples and Movements oriented to Communism: and

(b) define the place of the holding of the 2^nd World Congress in 2005

I present these suggestions to be considered by the Executive Committee of the International Council

Communist Greetings,
PEDRO CASTRO

In agreement
PEDRO CASTILHO
Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Council