Caracas, September 14, 2024 – A meeting was held both on site and via videoconference from the Rómulo Gallegos Latin American Studies Center Foundation (Celarg in Spanish) in Caracas, Venezuela, on Friday, September 13, between the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) and the Network of Intellectuals and Artists in Defense of Humanity.

During the meeting, the Executive Secretary of the Alliance, Jorge Arreaza, emphasized that it is crucial for both entities to promote an anti-fascist bloc in the region, which includes governments, intellectuals, and all social movements.

“ALBA, in its very spirit, must drive the anti-fascist bloc,” said Arreaza, adding, “President (of Venezuela) Nicolás Maduro asked me to reactivate the Alliance, and also expressed that he expects more from the Network (in Defense of Humanity), which should become a great space for education.”

He added that the goal is to hold a meeting on December 14 of this year in Havana, Cuba, with social movements and the Network to relaunch a joint action plan.

Venezuela’s Minister for Culture, Ernesto Villegas, also highlighted that “it is a challenge for ALBA-TCP to break down borders. This meeting between ALBA and the Network will strengthen that effort and make us stronger (…) It is important to engage with student movements, environmentalists, and the sex diversity community.”

Meanwhile, journalist Tania Díaz, speaking on behalf of the Network in Defense of Humanity, proposed the creation of a joint team with ALBA to coordinate actions for the integration of the peoples.

She also stressed the importance of establishing a communications award with the theme of “anti-fascism.”

Argentinian intellectual and Libertador Prize for Critical Thought recipient, Claudio Katz, pointed out that the true enemy is the far-right.

“Here we have decided to confront this barbarism (…) They (the fascist far-right) present themselves as the champions of freedom, when in reality, they are the denial of freedom. We aim to reignite the fight against the right, and that’s why we have met here,” Katz emphasized.

It is also noteworthy that the Rómulo Gallegos Latin American Studies Center Foundation (Celarg) is now officially the home of the Network in Defense of Humanity in Venezuela.

Patricia Villegas, President of the multinational broadcaster Telesur, was also present at the meeting.

Executive Secretary Jorge Arreaza took the opportunity to stress that both Celarg and Telesur must join forces strongly to revitalize the Network of Intellectuals and Artists in Defense of Humanity.