108. In welcoming the young independent State of the CommonweaLth of the Bahamas today, the Soviet delegation would like to stress with the greatest firm- ness that the Soviet Union and all its peoples support and will continue to suppont ;the peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America who are still in the olutches of colonialism in their just and heroic struggle for freedom, independence, democracy and social progress. It is for that reason that, from the first days of the October revolution in Russia up to the present, we have been the object of such anger on the part of the imperialists and colonialists and, at the same time, such gratitude from those who are struggling to achieve freedom and independence for colonial peoples. In that connexion, I am reminded of the words of <that outstanding African statesman and freedom-fighter, the distinguished President of Zambia, Mr. Kaunda. When I told him of the huge losses borne by the Soviet Union and its peoples during the great patriotic war of 1941- 1945, he said that the colonial peoples should be eternally grateful to the Soviet Union for its victory in that struggle for its own and their freedom: for, if it had not won, the peoples of the Soviet Union would have become colonial slaves, and the colonial deoples would have remained in colonial slavery. 109. The Soviet Union has recognized the Common- wealth of the Bahamas as an independent and sovereign State. 1 IO. In a ,caMe dated 10 July of this year from the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Aleksei Nikolaevich Kosygin, addressed to the Prime 10 Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Mr;’ Lynden Pindling, we read: r, q 8;“: “Accept, Mr. Prime Minister, our sincere COQ,~, 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a diplomatic statement from the Soviet Union welcoming the independence of the Bahamas. It emphasizes the Soviet Union's support for the struggles of colonial peoples for freedom and independence, and highlights its own role in the fight against colonialism and imperialism. The statement does not mention specific economic, environmental, or technological issues, but rather focuses on international relations and politics.

**Category**
International relations, Humanitarian aid and relief