Our conference is conducted during the time significant for each Soviet person – the year of the 90^th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution. The greater the distance in time of this achievement, the stronger is highlighted the unfading act of the heroic proletariat of Russia, who in union with the poor peasants under the leadership of the revolutionary party of Bolsheviks headed by Lenin opened the new era of history -- the era of new social-economic formation -- communism. Regardless of the turn of the events since then, the international working class, the international communist movement, and all progressive forces of the Earth can be proud of the fact that socialism turned from dream into reality for millions of labourers, powerfully marched and continues marching across the planet.

Glory to the discoverers of the new world, to fighters for Soviet power!

Eternal glory to heroes who fell in the struggle for the establishment of socialism in our country -- the USSR and abroad!

Since among those present in this hall are people not familiar with our Society, I will briefly explain.

The Soviet Society for Friendship with the Peoples of Foreign Countries, created in March 2003, set as its goal the "establishment of the friendly relations between the peoples of Russia and foreign countries through the exchange of delegations, information, organization of exhibitions, acquaintance with the traditions, culture and other aspects of life of the foreign countries in the course of the fight for the restoration of Soviet power on the territory of the former USSR, in defense of the class interests of the workers of all countries". The Soviet Society of Friendship is a partner and a component of the International Council for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People. "The purpose of the friends of Soviet people who united in the International Council is international collaboration in the building of socialism and solidarity with all anti-imperialist forces fighting against US imperialism -- the enemy of all humanity". One of the special tasks of the International Council for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People is helping the struggle for restoration of the multinational Soviet Union as a socialist state.

The International Council conducted two World Congresses for friendship and solidarity with the Soviet people (in 2001 and 2005). For the last 16 years it has been publishing a monthly magazine "Northstar Compass". The chairman of the executive committee of the International Council and the editor in chief of the magazine "Northstar Compass" is a loyal friend of the Soviet people Michael Lukas. The headquarters of the executive committee of the International Council and the editorial staff of the magazine "Northstar Compass" are located in Toronto (Canada).

In today's complex international situation the International Council uses its influence to unite all progressive forces into the anti-imperialist front. A new Communist International must become its core and cementing foundation.

In the editorial article in the January issue of "Northstar Compass" Michael Lukas directly stated: "There is urgency for a united movement of communists- socialists of the world. It can become a reality under only one condition: it being based on the Communist International ".

The Central Coordinating Council of the Society for Friendship of present composition was selected at the report-and-election conference on May 10, 2005, consisting of 11 people: Babiyenko L. T., Bourenkov V. V., Gounko B. M., Dianova V. S., Kaliberda T. V., Kovaleva I. N., Lozhkina Y. A., Prigarin A. A. Tikhonov G. I., Chechentsev V. N. and Shcherbakova Y. T.

At the CCC meeting on 19.10.2005 the responsibilities among the CCC members were distributed as following:

• Chechentsev V. N. -- chairman, manages contact with comrades in the USA, Canada and Belgium;

• Bourenkov -- deputy chairman, manages electronic mail and contacts with comrades in Great Britain and Belgium;

• Dianova V. S. - intra-Russian contacts, media, contact with Greek comrades;

• Prigarin A. A. - contacts with comrades from Europe, including communists and leftists of Italy and France;

• Lozhkina Y. A. - contacts with comrades from Cuba and Latin America;

• Babiyenko L. T. - newspaper "For the USSR";

• Tikhonov G. I. - contacts with the near abroad;

• Kovaleva I. N. - propaganda of the ideas of our Society in the registered society "Lenin i Otechestvo" ("Lenin and Fatherland");

• Shcherbakov Y. T. - technical secretary.

Involving associations as new members contributes considerably to an increase in the mass character of the Society’s actions, helps solve financial questions and propagation of the publications "For the USSR" and "Northstar Compass". As far as the individual membership is concerned, we hope that each member of the society will more actively propagandize the purposes of society, but not hide behind the backs of those comrades who voluntarily took upon themselves the labor of organizing daily work.

As it is known, the main portion of the Society’s work had to do with preparation of the 3^rd World Congress of the International Council. The offer to conduct the Congress in Moscow in November 2007 by the group of scientist- philosophers headed by D..V. Dzhokhadze was unanimously supported at the 2^nd World Congress in September 2005. CCC members foresaw difficulties of fulfilling this task from the very beginning and discussed them at the meeting on 27.12.2005.

Nevertheless, the extraordinary conference of the Society expressed its support for the initiative of comrade Dzhokhadze and the resolution of the 2^nd World Congresses about holding the 3^rd World Congress of the International Council and offered help in the realization of this proposal.

And this help to the organizing committee for the preparation for the Congress has been provided. Unfortunately, the difficulties, which arose with the preparation for the Congress, forced the executive committee of the International Council to revoke their decision and they postponed the Congress until 2008.

As a partner of the International Council, our Society considers the cancellation of the Congress a defeat of pro-Soviet forces on the territory of the former USSR. It is necessary to draw lessons from this experience. It has been demonstrated once more, that revisionism in the working class and the communist movement places barriers to unity based on the fundamental foundation of the restoration of the USSR and advance to socialism. It is difficult to believe, but none of the main six active communist parties on the territory of Russian Federation were willing to respond to a request of the organizing committee about their opinion on and relation to the upcoming Congress. Such is the reality, such are the conditions, in which we will have to work for a long time.

I think the efforts of the Society’s members were not in vain. Propaganda of the 3^rd Congresses in Moscow contributed to an increase in the interest of Soviet people in the activity of the International Council and made it possible to include into the ranks of movement for the revival of the Soviet Union new supporters.

Presently the possibility of conducting the 3^rd Congress in Belarus is in the works.

About other sides of the Society’s activity.

CCC of the Society regularly responded to the events of internal and international life with political statements. Among these statements are: resolution against the media campaign on the reburial of Lenin, liquidation of the necropolis in Red Square, statement regarding the nuclear tests by PDRK – People’s Democratic Republic of Korea, salutatory letter to the embassy of the republic of Cuba in on occasion of Fidel Castro’s 80 birthday.

Noticeable tracks in the activity of the society during the latest period became participation in the picket near American embassy against imprisonment of the 5 Cuban citizens-patriots in the USA (organizer movement "Venceremos").

Large efforts were applied in order to continue the publication of the Russian version of the magazine "Northstar Compass" which had started in December 2005. Today we have an active editorial staff. 3 new members of our CCC joined it. We are working on the issues of financing and registration. Unfortunately, difficulties with the realization of publication forced us to reduce print run from 1000 copies to 150. This position can no longer be tolerated. And I, as the editor in chief of this publication, want to say from this platform: Comrades, make a very small effort and help to spread the magazine, propagandize our goals and our ideals. Acquaint your friends and close ones with the magazine and do not forget to subscribe yourselves.

The remarkable newspaper "For the USSR", edited by Larissa Trofimovna Babiyenko, also needs our support.

And, of course, I cannot but mention the activity of the studio of patriotic arts "Soyuz", permanent leader of which until his death was B.M.Gounko. During this studio’s concerts our conference hall is full. We can only rejoice seeing how this group overcomes numerous difficulties and to wish more success to all its members: singers, musicians and poets.

There were deficiencies in the Activity of the CCC. Some of them were insufficient initiative of some individuals waiting for a directive before starting an action.

I think that in their presentations the participants will critically examine the results of our work and will consider the revealed deficiencies during the elections CCC and CCAC.

Most importantly, they will leave this comfortable conference hall with the desire to make everything possible to approach the 90^th anniversary of Great October with dignity!