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Communists promise to liquidate NATO & raise outlays for education

The Russian Communist Party to approve the list of candidates to join the December elections of the State Duma as well as the election platform

MOSKOVSKY, Moscow Region, September 24 (Itar-Tass) — The pre-election congress of the Russian Communist Party opened in the Moscow Region. Its delegates already elected the presidium. Now they have to approve the list of candidates to join the December elections of the State Duma as well as the election platform.

The congress is attended by head of the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) Vladimir Churov. In this connection, Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov noted: “We should like that he (Churov) observed political neutrality till the end of the elections.”

The first item of the congress agenda was official adoption of a decision on the party’s participation in the upcoming Duma elections as well as a report on the election platform. Zyuganov spoke as a rapporteur on both questions. He made a brief political digression over the past two decades in his speech.

“The Communist Party has behind it 20 years of political resistance,” he noted, adding that in the meantime, the party saw examples of treachery and loyalty. According to Zyuganov, 30,000 associates, mostly young people, joined the party.

The Communist Party leader emphasised that the party platform provides for “real democratisation of the political system”. For instance it is proposed to reinforce control functions of the parliament, to return elections of the heads of municipalities, legislative confiscation of property from corrupt people.

Much attention is given to the international policy and defence. For instance, in the opinion of Communists, “Russia’s national security is hamstrung, and the country’s future is in danger.” In this connection, a suggestion is made to change foreign policy priorities. “Russia will direct its efforts at a higher role of the UN in world politics and at limiting NATO influence and dumping this bloc,” said Zyuganov.

At the same time, Communists suggest expanding cooperation with China, India, Vietnam and other states of Asia and Latin America. No less important task for Communists is establishment of a new Union of sisterly nations.

Zyuganov reported that “a government of popular confidence” (alternative cabinet, suggested by the Communist Party) will stop “senseless reforming” the army and reduction of military units as well as will reinstate the system of military education”.

Zyuganov again voiced a proposal for nationalisation of the country’s minerals and raw materials as well as several industries. Communists promise “to dump the speculative banking system, strangulating the economy with neck-breaking interest on credits”. The state-owned Sberbank will ensure free service of citizens for paying housing and communal services, assured the Communist Party.

“Russian science will start participating in drafting all important state decisions. Key decisions by the president and the government will not be adopted without an approval by the Supreme Intellectual Council,” Zyuganov promised.

Communists also want to take new social legislation. One of the main items of the platform is expansion of state-owned network of social establishments, protection of maternity and childhood. “Utmost assistance will be given to operation of youth and children associations,” assured Zyuganov.

Reforming the education system was a separate item of the Communist Party’s platform. ”Outlays for education will reach 10 percent of the GDP,” Zyuganov assured. “All know that it is necessary 7 percent, but now it is twice as less.”