International Trades Union Conference in Damascus Raised LNR Flag, Lowered Ukrainian Rag

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Today, Andrei Kochetov, chairman of the LNR Federation of Trades Unions (FP LNR), told us that an international trades-union conference for solidarity with Syria replaced the Ukrainian flag with that of the LNR. The LNR delegation participated in an international conference of solidarity with the Syrian people and the working class against imperialism, blockades, and terrorism, held on 13-14 September in the Syrian capital of Damascus under the auspices of the World Federation of Trades Unions (WFTU) and the General Federation of Trades Unions of the Syrian Arab Republic. Kochetov told us:

The conference was in a hotel complex 13 kilometres (8 miles) from Damascus. The forum was rather diverse, attended by over 270 delegates from about 50 countries. Many delegates were from the Middle East, but the only delegations from the EU were from France and Italy. From our region, the only ones present were the Russian Federation and the LNR. Our delegation’s place-card read “Federation of Trades Unions, LNR”. That’s how they introduced us to the assembly. This was the usage in the Spanish, English, Arabic, Russian, and French languages… in all the documents, including the final resolution.

At first, they had the Ukrainian flag, but they replaced it with the LNR flag, which I had brought with me. Many conference attendees came up and said, “What a very beautiful star and a beautiful flag!” The change of the flag also brought special media attention to us. The conference participants very warmly received our presentation because they understand that the challenges that we face and those that Syria face are same, and that the instigator of these problems is the same party.

Earlier, FP LNR delegates took part in the 12th World Congress of Trade Unions of Civil Servants and Related Employees, which took place on 13-14 February in the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu, and on 1-2 June, they took part in an international conference of trade unions in Brussels (Belgium).

19 September 2015

LITs Lugansk Information Centre

http://lug-info.com/news/one/flag-lnr-zanyal-mesto-ukrainskogo-na-mezhdunarodnoi-profsoyuznoi-konferentsii-v-damaske-6823

Donetsk Noted 80th Anniversary of Stakhanovite Movement

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Donetsk noted the 80th anniversary of the Stakhanovite movement with a retrospective exhibition entitled, A Great Beginning for the Donbass. The exhibition, which includes about 60 paintings, sculptures, and commemorative medals, opened today at the all-Republic Art Museum. DNR Minister of Culture Aleksandr Paretsky attended the gala event, along with figures from industry, politics, and celebrities, alongside ordinary people. Paretsky observed, “These canvases evoke images of Alexei Stakhanov and his colleagues… railwayman Pyotr Krivonos, steelworker Makar Mazaya, traktorist* Praskovya Angelina. Their names are a legitimate source of pride; they help our young republic today to return to working people their deserved honour and glory. Despite wartime conditions, we’re getting ready to celebrate one of the most favourite holidays in the Donbas… Miner’s Day… we should be sure to remember one of the most famous miners who ever lived… Aleksei Stakhanov”.

• Traktorist: “tractor-driver”, actually a rural jack-of-all-trades, driver, mechanic, harvest apparatus operator, general “fix-it man”

The exhibition presents the work of 35 artists, most of them being local Donetsk homies. The list includes Pyotr Vasyukov, Polina Shakalo, Ivan Lisov, and others. Vladimir Sarbash, technical director of the Donetsk Coal Energy Company, who was at the exhibition, said, “It excited and thrilled me to see these canvases at the museum. We learned about some of these folks in books; we worked with some of these people. They were real heroes of labour, the bedrock of the working class of the Donbass”. The exhibition will be on display and run until the end of October, being completely open to the public.

The Stakhanovite mass movement followed the example of Soviet Donbass coalminer Aleksei Stakhanov, who worked at the Central-Irmino Mine. Stakhanov mined 102 tonnes of coal during the night shift of 30-31 August 1935, when the norm for a shift was 7 tonnes. Subsequently, on 19 September, he set a new record by bringing 227 tonnes of black gold to the surface. The all-Union Communist Party encouraged and promoted the Stakhanovite movement, as a new form of socialist competition and as a way of increasing labour productivity.

27 August 2015

DAN Donetsk News Agency

http://dan-news.info/culture-ru/doneck-otmetil-80-letie-staxanovskogo-dvizheniya-masshtabnoj-vystavkoj-retrospektivoj.html

LNR Federation of Trades Unions Rep Spoke at International Conference in Brussels

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Andrei Kochetov, a member of the Presidium of the LNR Federation of Trades Unions, gave us an interview after returning from Brussels attending an international conference convened by the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) entitled “How the embargo, blockade, and sanctions imposed by the USA, NATO and the EU dealt a blow to workers’ rights”.

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LITs

Andrei, why did you go to Brussels?

Andrei Kochetov

In the beginning of the year, I received a personal invitation take part as a representative of LNR trades unionists in this WFTU conference in Brussels. This forum didn’t just pop out of the ground, it took some hard work on the part of all of us in the Federation. My knowledge of the [English] language was an important role in my invite.

LITs

So, everything went well?

Kochetov

Everything went perfectly. The event took place on 1-2 June; 46 delegates attended the forum. There were two keynote addresses, one on Syria, and mine on the Ukraine. I spoke in English so that as many as possible could understand me; they gave me 15 minutes to speak.

LITs

How did they receive as your speech?

Kochetov

Very good, indeed, most of them sympathised with us. In fact, many countries support us. In particular, many of those present… Venezuela, Cuba, Brazil, Serbia… are well aware of such double standards, of imperialism and sanctions. Oddly enough, we got some emphatic support from Latvia. In general, Latvians believe that they’re preparing the same scenario against them that we face. To be blunt, they don’t want to be a bridgehead of aggression against Russia. In general, yes, all speakers agreed that it’s necessary to fight against the imperialists’ predatory approach to workers’ rights.

LITs

Was this something you actually observed, apart from your impressions?

Kochetov

Yes. We voted on a draft resolution that mentioned Palestine, Syria, and the Ukraine specifically. We clearly stated that the WFTU opposes the Ukrainian neofascist régime. The resolution supported the inalienable right of the people in any country to decide on how they should organise their lives. We adopted this resolution; it’ll be on the official WFTU website soon.

LITs

Did the conference formally present its resolutions to the EU apparat?

Kochetov

When the draft resolution was ready, the representatives of the LNR, the Sudan, and Venezuela asked the Chairman to present it to Martin Schulz, the President of the European Parliament. However, he was busy, so, we handed the resolution to the European Parliament Chairman for Administration. Therefore, the document has official status.

LITs

Did your participation accomplish anything?

Kochetov

The WFTU leadership informed me that the LNR Federation of Trade Unions would be part of the organisation… a bloc that unites 167 million workers worldwide. We’re still waiting for the official word.  In addition, at the end of the conference, I invited WFTU head Grigorios Mavrikos to visit the LNR for the celebration of Miner’s Day. He agreed, promising that he’d come. In personal conversation, Mavrikos said that we’re an important part of the WFTU, and that they’d help us fight to break the stranglehold of the informational blockade.

LITs

 What do you personally think was the most important thing that happened?

Kochetov

For us, everything was fundamental and important. Because the LNR is a so-called “unrecognised republic”, we don’t have access to most official world venues, so, the voice of such NGOs as the WFTU is very important to us.

LITs

Therefore, your main goal was to break the informational blockade?

Kochetov

Of course… in general, one should note this important point… we got a real chance to inform the world that Kiev consistently violates the Minsk agreements. We could tell people what’s really going on here. This platform was a real break the informational blockade. For example, I spoke with an MEP, a Greek communist. He told me that there’s unprecedented pressure on all MEPs on the Ukrainian issue. He put it right out there… he’d never seen such brutal pressure before. This happened just before the G7 meeting.

LITs

In general, how do you think that it all went?

Kochetov

In general, I think that it was successful. Oleg Akimov, who leads the LNR Federation of Trade Unions, also thinks that way. He told me point-blank, “Andrei, I hope that our Federation will soon be part of the WFTU. This’d enable us to much more effectively fight for workers’ rights on the world stage”. I agree completely with Oleg. Personally, I saw first-hand how many people in the world are on our side. They generally understand what’s happening here, but they don’t have sufficient and reliable information. The informational torrent from the Western media is simply scary. For example, I handed out souvenirs and St George ribbons at the European Parliament. We had to explain to our audience what these symbols mean to our people. However, the interest was incredible; we gave things out to everyone who wanted some. We ran out, but I found some other things for a woman who wanted something. In conclusion, I’d say that the fact that the WFTU resolution clearly opposed the Ukrainian neofascist régime shows that our mission was an unqualified success”.

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In addition, sitting MEPs* took part in this WFTU conference in Brussels (Belgium). The WFTU unites trades unions from 146 countries. Kochetov spoke on 2 June, his speech called for the lifting of sanctions imposed by the USA and the EU against Russia. In addition, Kochetov appealed to the international community to force junta strongman P A Poroshenko and the putschist junta in general to follow the Minsk agreements, to immediately end the economic, financial, social, transportation, and water blockade of the Republic.

• MEP: Member of the European Parliament

16 June 2015

LITs Lugansk Information Centre

http://lug-info.com/news/one/federatsiya-profsoyuzov-lnr-triumfalno-vystupila-na-mezhdunarodnoi-konferentsii-v-bryussele-foto-3996

Editor:

Two of the biggest supporters of the fascist junta are Chilly Hilly and Butcher Biden. That is, if you call yourself a “progressive” or a Leftist, and you support either of these two warmongers… you’re lying to yourself. They support a viciously anti-labour junta that’s slashed wages and pensions whilst raising prices and utilities rates. If you support Chilly Hilly IN ANY WAY… you spit on the people of the Peoples Republics. If you defend Chilly Hilly IN ANY WAY… you fire shells at the peaceful civilians of the Peoples Republics. If you claim to support Bernie, but really support Chilly Hilly (and allow no criticism of her evil policies and her past lies)… you not only stamp your boot on the faces of the people of the Peoples Republics, you’re a liar before God and Man. You can support the Peoples Republics and their stand for a fair socialist society… or you can support Chilly Hilly the Wicked Witch of Wall Street, with her desire to impose a Crapitalist Hell. She’s done nothing to end “welfare reform”… I need say no more (her habitual and inveterate lying and grasping greediness are sufficiently known to all).

It’s time to choose… choose well…

BMD

25 April 2015. This is What I Believe In…

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I need add nothing…

BMD