I have received and read the last issue of NSC with the documents of the International Conference. I was very pleased to see my article in that issue surrounded with a splendid cartoon. When I sent you my last article I was not sure you would publish it, but now that I see you have use of literature like this, I can send you more. My English has improved since the time I started receiving NSC and I now read it whenever I have time, which I do not have that much of. I express my regrets for not participating in the Conference at least by correspondence. I have experience participating in such conferences, for example I collaborate with the Japanese organization CRPK. You know about them because in the last report of their regularly held antiwar conference my speech and the greetings of the International Council with your signature were published side by side. Naturally, I have not the means to travel either to Japan or to Canada, and neither the Japanese nor you have the means to pay for my travel. However, every year I have an opportunity to present my speech to the Japanese conference by correspondence.
I think if you invited all your readers who wish to express their opinion on the agenda of the Conference and in general on the outstanding problems of the communist movement at its modern stage there would be many of those willing to express their serious thoughts, worthy of presenting to the attention of the NSC readers, as well as useful advice, directed towards further steady movement of our cause and our ideas.
On the other hand, I realise what a burden on you and your closest colleagues would be publishing such responses, never mind their translation. I can imagine you saying to me: "It is easy for you to advise!" and I admit you are right. However, I feel obligated to expresses my thoughts and wishes, and it is for you to decide to apply them or not.
It would be ideal if the series of political seminars about socialism and what happened in the USSR, which started on November 9 in the Friendship House, could also take an international character, if such seminars were announced beforehand and if participation of foreign Marxists by correspondence was allowed.
About some issues raised and discussed at the Conference. Bourenkov's opinion that in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, Russia was an imperialist country just like the USA, saddened me, but did not surprise me. Part of the left, here in Ukraine as well, hold this opinion. They explain their position with the idea that at some point Lenin according to them also took such a position in a similar conflict. And without burdening themselves with serious concrete historical analysis they take a similar stand! However, such a position hurts your own cause and works for the imperialists. If they believe that the Georgian aggression conducted by an American puppet Saakashvili against South Ossetia and the Russian army stepping in to defend the citizens of South Ossetia and rescue them from open genocide are equivalent actions, then in whose favour is such thinking? There are many such examples!
Without forgetting the nature of today's Russian government, if we want to remain on a Marxist path we must say that today Russia is not simply a capitalist country, but a post-socialist country, being dragged into capitalism by force, which for a post-socialist country is quite a reactionary and unnatural path, which contradicts the essence of the society, its ideology, economics and state of mind!
Having survived the period of comprador bourgeoisie of the Yeltsin epoch and first years of Putin's government, today Russia is merely a supplier of raw materials to the imperialist countries. It is making its first steps towards becoming a truly independent state. This state can very likely choose a path of becoming a mighty imperialist state, or it may not. It may take the path of state capitalism, from which it will turn to state socialism, which for a country with the recent socialist past would be a more natural transition... Not to understand the difference between the politics of the imperialist monster, who just recently tried to play the role of almighty master of the unipolar world, means to sign under one's own helplessness and inability to properly evaluate the situation in the modern world society. Should we support any attempt to throw the USA off the throne of world gendarme, or stand by and watch? If we choose to simply observe, then from which camp will we hear the applause?
I wholeheartedly support the comrades who proposed to maximize use of the Internet. NSC must keep up with the times. At the same time, I am absolutely against discontinuing publication of the print edition of NSC. A large portion of the exploited and oppressed does not have access to the Internet.
I was somewhat offended with the part of your speech where you said that NSC readers do not say "Thank you" for the magazine sent to them for free. I think all that we do, each one in his place of duty, we do not do so we can receive "Thank you's", but for the victory of socialism in the whole world. Also, it seems to me that all regular readers of NSC value the work of the comrades in Canada and your work particularly in publishing NSC and are greatly thankful for your efforts.
To conclude, I would like to express my joy on the occasion that I managed to find the time and write you this message. I wish you, your wife, and your comrades success in your noble work, as well as health, and express one more time sincere thank you for everything you are doing for our common cause.
Having finished I continued reading the NSC and came to the part where it says about broadening the network of local Organizations of Friendship with Foreign Countries. Several years ago I expressed my readiness
to make an attempt and start some work in this direction. If I recall correctly, back then you counted on Professor Herasymchuk in Rovno. I have tried contacting him several times by mail, unsuccessfully though (likely because Professor Herasymchuk has always lived in Lutsk, not in Rovno – translator). I inquired about him at the local office of the Communist Party of Ukraine and heard a lot of good things about him. However, I have never heard back from Professor Herasymchuk himself and this endeavour of mine dwindled. Today, unfortunately, I am too busy with the Antifascist Committee and the association Intellectuals for Socialism, and I cannot take upon myself organizing of a local branch of Organization of Friendship with Foreign Countries. However, if anyone in Ukraine starts such a branch, I will help them with whatever means I have.
As for the call to create a Comintern, you appeal to the communist parties for unification, and I cannot make a decision for any party. If any work is done regarding this, I am always ready to help in this noble beginning. At the same time, I do not see any true serious parties, and not those who are "communist" only in name, who could approach the task of creating a Communist International.
I think that we should not create the new International. For this, firstt of all, we need the building material. We must do like Marx and Engels did in a similar situation. They created a Union of Communists which individual communists could join as well as organizations. I have written to you about such a form of unification a long time ago and until now remain firm in this opinion.
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