CELAC's path must be Unity in Diversity

To ensure the consolidation of unity within the diverse nations of Latin America and the Caribbean through the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), President Nicolás Maduro of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has firmly stated that those who oppose this mechanism “will dry up in history.”

From the Sandals Hotel Convention Center in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, during the 9th CELAC Summit celebration, the Venezuelan Head of State criticized the extremist stance of right-wing governments that "seek to drag” progressive nations into capitalism.

"If the extremist criteria of the right-wing were imposed on the Gringos, on the Yankees, then the UN should not exist but disappear, because 194 countries of different cultures coexist there," the president pointed out.

He recalled that the CELAC Summit was founded in Caracas in 2011, under the principles of mutual respect, complementarity and self-determination of the peoples of the South.

”The presidency of Honduras, the presidency of Colombia is already in sight and this is the way (...) we must continue to build values, plans and actions from within so that Latin America and the Caribbean can return to the path of the Liberator," Maduro added in a statement to media at the Summit.

Regarding the establishment of a permanent secretariat for CELAC, the dignitary assured that it would be a topic of discussion during the meeting gathering the 33 member countries of the organization.

"Sooner or later we will have to create a permanent, executive and general secretariat; all international structures have them and because CELAC does not, it is going to have it. We have to give ourselves our internal structure and strengthen our path,” President Maduro said.

Finally, he praised the performance of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines before the pro tempore presidency of the integration mechanism.

"They said that a small Caribbean country could not be president of CELAC and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has demonstrated the great political and diplomatic capacity that characterizes it,” he concluded.

It is clear, according to what President Nicolás Maduro indicated at the CELAC Summit, that Venezuela will continue betting on replicating agreements that promote and strengthen bilateral and regional integration for the shared benefits they generate, as well as for the complementarity they produce. Such agreements may be of the following types: a) Transnational infrastructure, for example the Antonio Ricaurte Trans-Caribbean gas pipeline with Colombia; b) joint exploitation of natural resources, for example with the Dragon Field Agreement with Trinidad and Tobago; c) Joint approach in the Amazon in the framework of the ACTO, to name just a few.

With this scenario, Venezuela has a considerable advantage to advance trade agreements within the framework of the strategic alliances it maintains with other nations and regional blocs; such as China, Russia, Iran, Turkey, India; by successfully joining the BRICS+ , as well as with ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Union. The establishment of deep commercial relations with these countries and blocs will allow Venezuela to realize its full technological and industrial fields, which still remain highly affected by a regime of illegal and unilateral US sanctions.

ALBA-TCP participates in Secretariat meeting within CELAC Summit framework

The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples' Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) participated this Friday in a meeting with the regional Secretariats, in the context of the ongoing CELAC summit.

The meeting, which focused on social inclusion and the integration of peoples, was attended by the secretaries of ALBA-TCP, Jorge Arreaza; of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA), Clarems Endara; of the Latin American Integration Association (Aladi), Sergio Abreu; of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Carla Barnett; of the Association of Caribbean States (AEC), Rodolfo Sabonge; of the Andean Community (CAN), Gonzalo Gutiérrez, and of the Central American Integration (SICA), Ingrid Figueroa.

During his speech, the secretary of the ACS, Rodolfo Sabonge, affirmed that connectivity is a fundamental basis for advancing development of the countries that make up the ALBA and the other multilateral organizations of the region.

“In this fourth industrial revolution, beyond a technological platform that communicates to us, we need to advance in knowledge and in the application of these tools (such as AI),” he said.

Sabonge indicated that, in the context of CELAC, it is important to promote mechanisms that help reduce the impact of climate change on their populations.

For his part, the executive secretary of AlBA-TCP, Jorge Arreaza, emphasized that social inclusion, health and literacy programs would be fundamental for this international mechanism.

He stressed that it is necessary to continue promoting programs such as Miracle Mission, a program that guarantees the vision healthcare of thousands of citizens in the region.

He reaffirmed the essential nature of physical and digital interconnectedness. “On the issue of artificial intelligence (AI), as for CELAC, our support should generate a discussion on some code of ethics, so that artificial intelligence does not take over the processes of humanity,” added the ALBA executive secretary.

During the meeting, Arreaza emphasized the presence of seven Caribbean island countries and three continental ones within ALBA, with six of those island nations being members of CARICOM.

Arreaza also invited the Secretary of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Didacus Jules, to join ALBA.

Historic Joint statement

The heads of the secretariats of the regional and integration organizations Aladi, Caricom, ALBA-TCP, AEC, SICA, SELA and CAN, as guests at the VIII CELAC Summit, signed a joint agreement to enhance a cooperation agenda to promote regional integration.

In the document, dated March 1, 2024, they agreed to work together to continue promoting the development of Latin America and the Caribbean.

They also agreed to work towards enhancing exchanges in social, economic, and cultural spheres. Ensuring food security and developing digital and security agendas were also highlighted as integral components of the agreement signed between the regional secretariats.

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