Table Of Content792
Documents & Resolutions of the
2nd COPWE Congress
JQ
3769
A45
C66 ADDIS ABABA
1983 January, 1983
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Documents & Resolutions of the
2nd COPWE Congress
ADDIS ABABA
January, 1983
Comrade Mengistu Haile-Mariam
Chairman of the PMAC and of COPWE and
Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Army
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CONTENTS
Central Report to 2nd COPWE Congress
Presented by
Comrade Mengistu Haile-Mariam
Chairman of the Provisional Military Administrative Council
and of COPWE and Commander-in -Chief of
the Revolutionary Army of Socialist Ethiopia
Introduction 7
On Organization 11
On Ideological Work .. 26
On Economic and Social Activities 35
On Foreign Relation and International Issues .. 65
On the Defence of the Motherland and the Revolution .. 75
On Party Construction and the Tasks Ahead .... 81
* Declaration of the 2nd Congress of the Commission for
Organizing the Party of the Working People of Ethiopia, COPWE 87
* Resolutions of the Second Congress of COPWE .. 93
* Closing Statement of 2nd COPWE Congress Delivered by
Comrade Mengistu Haile-Mariam Chairman of the PMAC
and of COPWE and Commander-in -Chief of the
Revolutionary Army 107
1
Central Report to 2nd COPWE Congress Presented by Comradle Mengistu
Haile-Mariam Chairman of the Provisional Military Administrative Council
and of COPWE and Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Army of
Socialist Ethiopia
Introduction
Esteemed comrade members of the Congress and participants,
It was more than two and a half years ago at this same place and hall that
we declared officially the launching of the activities of the Commission for Org
anizing the Party of the Working People of Ethiopia (COPWE) which occupies a
prominent place in the revolutionary life of our nation. The First Congress of
COPWE was indeed historic in that it was a forum at which a single vanguard
political organization in our society officially started work. Not only that, it was
an important forum where we assessed the then prevailing general national and
international situations and mapped out the correct line and programme of
action which has made possible the convening of this Second Congress of our
Organization.
As COPWE is responsible for opening a chapter for the official establish
ment of a single vanguard political organization in this country, its historic signi
ficance was proved by the correct realization of its plan of action and the should
ering of the heavy responsibilities it has been entrusted with. This was because
its mission was not only unique and the first of its kind in our country but was
also multiple. COPWE organizes itself, provides the necessary political leader
ship to the socitty and creates favourable conditions within its own process in
order to ensure the establishment of the working peoples party. Theseare all tasks
it undertakes simultaneously.
COPWE has proved itself equal to the task of drawing up a correct political
line and in the implementation of its programmes not only on national but also
on international issues. At the national level, it gives leadership to the revolution
ary camp for properly assessing the prevailing characteristics of the struggle so
as to adopt a correct strategy of action; on the international level, it provides the
necessary leadership for the consolidation of our relations with the socialist and
progressive forces and promotes the principle of peaceful co-existence among
peoples.
If we look back from the forum of this Second Congress of our Organiza
tion upon the road traversed and ask ourselves what was planned, what was ac
complished, and what results were obtained, we realize that we have registered
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progress in the lightofour strategicobjectives. However, there is no gainsay
that we face problems that must be surmounted immediately, and in the long
run, guarantee the continuity of our progress. Although this Congress is to ex
amine in detail the path traversed in the struggle waged in the past, particularly
the tasks undertaken and the problemsencountered since the First Congress of our
Organization, its main objective is not to focus on howrewarding theresults we
have achieved thus far, have been, but rather, to chart out properly the future
path on the basis of the correct perception to be gained from an analytical exam
inationofourdeliberations.
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As we have made it clear to all and as it can also be deduced from our
deeds, the objective of ourRevolution is to build a prosperous new society based
on equality wherein the working people are completely emancipated from explo
itation. As Marxist-Leninist theoryprofoundly indicates and the objective under
taking of our Revolution demonsirate, the leadership of the vanguard Leninist
Party is decisive for guaranteeing to a popular revolution the fulfilment of its
immense historic mission.In order to proceed confidently, leadership is the basic
issue, beginning from the overthrow ofthe old political order tothe organizing
of the new system and building socialism. To co-ordinate the very complicated
task of socialist construction in particular, namely economic, administrative,
military andcultural affairs as well as foreign policy and the like, and torun them
correctly, there is no alternative to the leadership of a yanguard party in
Itis to be recalled that the obstacles surmountedby our Revolution, which
crupted in the absence of this decisive body were very taxing. However, it has
been possible to register aseries of victories through the leadership of the Pro
visional Military Administrative Council, through the heroic struggle of genuine
revolutionariesand through the precious sacrifices the entire masses had to pay.
Comparing these proud outcomes with what remains to be done, we see that the
need for the party is more pressing now than ever before. Accordingly, passing
through complicated situations where the objective realities were very difficult, it
has been possible, through the unity of genuine revolutionaries to establish
COPWE, thesole political organization which will lead to the formation of the
party of the working people. This was a great and historic step forward which has
wonthe whole-hearted support of theranks ofthe Revolution and theentiremasses
alike. Thus, wide-ranging activities had been undertaken to lay the structure of
COPWE and, on the whole, to create favourable conditions for the formation of
theparty. And after thisCongress we shall proceed to the last phases of COPWE's
activitywhichwillseeusthrough totheformation of the Party.
The establishment of the party of the workingpeople commands our singular
attention notbecause it is our ultimate goal but because party leadership isthe
guarantee for the attainment of the lasting objective of the working people, Dame
