First Published: Vanguard, Vol. 1, No. 1, February 1964.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Ian Roberts, Paul Saba and Sam Richards
Copyright: This work is in the Public Domain under the Creative Commons Common Deed. You can freely copy, distribute and display this work; as well as make derivative and commercial works. Please credit the Encyclopedia of Anti-Revisionism On-Line as your source, include the url to this work, and note any of the transcribers, editors & proofreaders above.
The celebration of the 20th anniversary of the liberation of Albania from imperialist and fascist rule has been a time of great rejoicing in Albania. We have seen in the great parade held last Sunday, a mighty demonstration of the strength and unity of the Albanian people, led by comrade Enver Hodja and the Albanian Party of Labour. This parade symbolised the achievements of these last 20 years, and it was for us, representatives of Marxist-Leninists in Britain, a moving experience. For these 20 years of achievement, these 20 years of Socialist construction in Albania, are of great international significance. They demonstrate just what becomes possible when a people led by a Marxist-Leninist Party dare to challenge the rule of the imperialists and to overthrow their power by armed struggle. Since then the dictatorship of the working class has been maintained, in defiance of all the attempts by the imperialists and their agents to regain control over Albania, and this above all, has made possible the immense economic, and cultural achievements of these last 20 years.
As Comrade Enver Hodja said, in his speech on Saturday, Albania, before its liberation, was the most backward country in Europe. Today it has left many of the capitalist countries far behind in its economic and cultural achievements. To take just three simple facts. There is a free health service in socialist Albania; there is electric light in the villages of socialist Albania; there is full employment in socialist Albania. Those who know of the condition of the working class and the peasants in many of the capitalist states of Southern Europe can well understand why the imperialists and their agents try so desperately to conceal from the people the truth about socialist Albania.
When the imperialists had failed in their direct attacks upon Albania they made use of modern revisionism in their attempts to overthrow the people’s power. The Tito clique and then the Khrushchevites, were used, in a series of vain attempts to sabotage the economy of Albania, to starve Albania into submission. They all failed miserably. Why? Because the Albanian Party of Labour led the people in a principled stand in defence of the sovereign rights of Albania. They refused to be bullied into submission by any great power. They refused to abandon their principled Marxist-Leninist stand on every question raised by the modern revisionists in their attempt to subvert the international Communist movement.
The parade which we saw last Sunday has demonstrated to us two central facts about People’s Albania. Firstly we were greatly impressed by the strength of the People’s Army, by the confidence and high military discipline displayed by the soldiers, and by the great variety of modern arms which they have at their disposal. It is clear to us that, should the imperialists, or any of their agents, attempt an armed invasion of Albania, that they would meet with a bloody repulse, they would be hurled back from Albanian soil. The People’s army, the People’s militia, the People in arms, are clearly in a position to defend their Homeland, and this despite all the treacherous attempts of the Khruschovite clique to disarm Albania. In this aim the modern revisionists have completely failed.
Secondly we have seen with our own eyes during the civilian part of the parade, that there is immense popular enthusiasm for the Albanian Party of Labour, led by comrade Enver Hodja, that the unity between Party and people is indestructible. Indeed, how could it be otherwise, when the Party has led the people in immense advances in every field of life during these last 20 years. It is clear to us that this unity between Party and people is the essential reason why every attempt by the modern revisionists to overthrow the leadership of the Party, and the Government of Albania, has so completely failed, and why any such attempt which they may make in the future will fail equally miserably.
In our stay in Albania we have obtained many vivid impressions of the enthusiasm, audacity and optimism of the Albanian people, as they tackle the problems of building the new Albania. In Tirana, in Vlora, in Saranda, in Girokastir and in Berati, we have learnt something of what has been accomplished, and of the tasks that lie ahead, and we wish all those comrades and friends whom we have met every success in their work.
Marxist-Leninists in Britain face the immediate task of re-establishing the Communist Party on the basis of Marxism-Leninism, and of mobilising ever-wider sections of the working class and people of Britain to struggle against the Labour Government’s and capitalists’ attacks upon their living standards and democratic rights, to struggle against the growing domination and military occupation of Britain by United States imperialism, and finally for the establishment of working class power and the building of Socialism in our country.
In these hard tasks we derive great strength form the achievements, and the friendship and solidarity of the Albanian people and the Albanian Party of Labour. Their fraternal support to us is a vivid demonstration of international working class solidarity.
Long live the friendship of the Albanian and the British people.
Long live the Albanian Party of Labour, led by Comrade Enver Hodja.