Category: Highlights

The 2nd Meeting for a World Social Alternative started with a debate on the role of the media

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Caracas, July 23, 2024 – “This Meeting for a World Social Alternative is an opportunity for us to go around the world building and demanding justice, in the economic, social, and communication fields.” This is how the Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America- Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Jorge Arreaza, began […]

Caracas, July 23, 2024 – “This Meeting for a World Social Alternative is an opportunity for us to go around the world building and demanding justice, in the economic, social, and communication fields.”

This is how the Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America- Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Jorge Arreaza, began the 2nd Meeting for a World Social Alternative, from Bolívar to Chávez, which brought together social movements and guests from more than 60 countries at the Bolívar Theater of Caracas.

“We are in a moment of decline of imperialism, that is why we must get involved, those of us who believe in humanity, in Mother Earth, in justice, in equality,” he highlighted.

He expressed that this second meeting should serve to design proposals for debate on new technologies, artificial intelligence, among other means to spread the reality of the region.

Communication and resistance: the role of the media in current geopolitics

Telesur’s president, Patricia Villegas, opened the panel on the communication topic, stating that it is essential for the information sources in the region and the Alliance to work together and responsibly.

Villegas spoke about the media coverage of the presidential elections in Venezuela on July 28, emphasizing the need to work with reliable sources. She highlighted that “this election has a global and continental impact,” and called for real coordination between media outlets and networks.

Villegas stressed the importance of a new literacy in communication, stating that “our governments must work on this issue; the challenge is here. We have to learn how to read social networks, we have to learn how to interpret the content that is at our fingertips.”

She proposed ALBA-TCP to create “our own social networks” and develop new technological tools to strengthen regional communication.


Believe in resistance

On the other hand, Dyron Roque, member of the Secretariat of ALBA Movimientos, emphasized that talking about resistance “puts us on the right path” in the face of the intentions of the American empire and a certain type of hegemony.

He highlighted: “Resistance must occur in the face of force and consensus (of powers). The Cuban Revolution has been an example of resistance for breaking coercion and challenging the consensus of capitalism.”

Creating a new discourse

Vivian Fernandes, representative of Brasil de Fato, mentioned that communication should break with the concept of news as a commodity and combat the lies of the major media outlets linked to the global far right.

On the other hand, Fernandes called for creating a new discourse that allows us to counteract capitalism, as well as “building our own communication with aspects that unite us; and building news with the truth of what is happening in our countries.”

Similarly, Alan McLeod, editor of Mint Press (United States), warned that “there is a media war against Venezuela being waged in London, Washington, New York, and Madrid.”

He also warned that the media do not question power, but are power themselves, “they are the voice of the powerful. They are the spokespeople of the oligarchs.”

Venezuela and the presidential elections

Journalist William Castillo, leader of Venezuela Nuestra International Campaign Team, stated that, in the case of the presidential elections in the Bolivarian country, communication is a priority and must be handled carefully, as it can be used to generate misinformation and fear among the population.

In his opinion, right-wing media outlets can be “generators of chaos,” which is why he urged to be alert from all informative spaces in the region.

Castillo concluded this presentation by stating that media outlets and television operators often come together during electoral processes to create false narratives that confuse citizens and provoke violent events.

The first Meeting for a World Social Alternative took place in Caracas from April 18th to 20th, organized by the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America- Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) and the Simon Bolivar Institute (ISB).

The book “El espíritu de la comuna y su golpe de timón” was presented

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On Tuesday, July 16th, the People’s Power Ministry for Communes and Social Movements, together with the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA-TCP) and the Pueblos Institute for Original Thought, presented the book “El espíritu de la comuna y su golpe de timón. Líneas del pensamiento (des)colonial de Hugo Chávez para repensar la […]

On Tuesday, July 16th, the People’s Power Ministry for Communes and Social Movements, together with the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA-TCP) and the Pueblos Institute for Original Thought, presented the book “El espíritu de la comuna y su golpe de timón. Líneas del pensamiento (des)colonial de Hugo Chávez para repensar la vida” (The spirit of the commune and its change of course. Lines of Hugo Chávez’ (de)colonial thought to rethink life”).

The event, which took place within the context of the International Book Fair of Venezuela 2024 (FILVEN), featured the participation of Mexican sociologist Karina Ochoa as the prologue writer; the compiler of the text, social communicator Nerliny Carucí; and the president of the Pueblos Institute for Original Thought, Luis Berrizbeitia.

During her participation, Karina Ochoa expressed that this “is a book that recovers part of the speeches that Hugo Chávez made over many years, but also records the personal transformation of a man who understood that the struggle could not only be about humanizing capitalism. Chávez understood that it was necessary to go further, and in 2012 it became very evident that the commitment to the commune would be the path to follow. It was the moment when Chávez understood, in decolonial terms, that the commitment was to the people, to ‘us’, and that we had to leave behind the egoic ‘I’ of modernity to become a collective ‘us’.”

In her speech, the decolonial teacher pointed out that “‘The spirit of the commune and its change of course’ is a book that invites us to change our way of thinking and leaves us with a reference point of radical Chávez and decolonial Chávez. An experience that must be read in Latin America.”

The text “‘The spirit of the commune and its change of course’ is a new child that Comandante Chávez gives us. It is the possibility to remember that this struggle continues and it is the opportunity to return to hope”, she pointed out.

Additionally, Nerliny Carucí, the compiler of the mentioned book, stated that “at this historical moment in which humanity is facing a planetary crisis, when the exhaustion of essential goods of life and the desperation of capitalism and its imperial model are overwhelmingly evident, the message of Chávez, especially mature Chávez, invites us to reflect on these tensions from a territorial perspective and from the organized and conscious people.”

The Venezuelan social communicator emphasized that “the words of mature Chávez have a profound reflection, as a result of his political practice and daily decolonial exercise, which can give us insights to redefine the horizon of resistance against a declining model.”

Carucí affirmed that “Chávez, this radical and decolonial Chávez, born out of his process of transformation in walking and thinking, proposes a communal political project that incorporates Mother Earth as a subject of another way of life.”

Nerliny Carucí emphasized that “in Chávez, the notion of territory is not an empty territory: it is a space that has culture, history, sovereignty, spirituality, and sustainability. Chávez sees territory as a living space that must ecologically work along with its communities. It is about the Pachamama, communal, truly human message; an unavoidable imperative to make the civilizational turn we need in the present.”

Meanwhile, Luis Berrizbeitia, the president of the Pueblos Institute for Original Thought, stated that “in the text ‘The spirit of the commune and its change of course,’ we find a good dose of the different dimensions of Commander Chávez’ thought. These dimensions are essential to understand the decolonial horizon in Venezuela and crucial topics such as territory, socialism, and community, which are essential elements to counteract the current civilizational model. In Chávez’ ideas lie the foundation for building a free homeland and developing the necessary Latin American revolution for these times.”

The book “The spirit of the commune and its change of course. Lines of Hugo Chávez’s (de)colonial thought to rethink life” consists of 340 pages and is divided into seven sections: an introduction; Portrait of the spirit of the commune; Decolonization as mediation between modern/capitalist mode of existence and communal way of life; Communal socialism; Communal socialism and the five battlefields against a declining civilization; Can we think about revolution from other logics? and the commitment of those who build community.

Three books and several stories were presented by Jorge Arreaza at FILVEN 2024

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Caracas, July 14, 2024.- The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) raised its literary voice this Sunday at the International Book Fair of Venezuela, at the National Art Gallery in Caracas. Jorge Arreaza presented three different books: “El desafío y el sentido histórico de la unidad” (The challenge […]

Caracas, July 14, 2024.- The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) raised its literary voice this Sunday at the International Book Fair of Venezuela, at the National Art Gallery in Caracas.

Jorge Arreaza presented three different books: “El desafío y el sentido histórico de la unidad” (The challenge and the historical meaning of unity- ALBA editions and Pueblos Institute); “Irreversibilidad… Como la luna llena. Crónica de la última proclama” (Irreversibility… Like the full moon. Chronicle of the last proclamation – Vadell publishers); and “La Alianza de Simón Bolívar” (The Alliance of Simón Bolívar – Vadell publishers). It is important to mention that the last two books were written by Arreaza.

Jorge Arreaza said that with the text The Challenge and the Historical Meaning of Unity, the regional bloc seeks to create content to support regional integration. “Each author who participated in this book, which was released in record time, a short pregnancy, but it was born with a lot of capacity to contribute, which is what we want to do from ALBA-TCP, create content to contribute to transformation and talk about the integration that we have been talking about for years.”

He emphasized that this text speaks of unity beyond the Alliance. “It is an advanced, anti-imperialist, decolonial proposal (…) This book is different from many points of view.”

On the other hand, Irene León, a sociologist and international political analyst from Ecuador, and one of the presenters of the book “The Challenge and the Historical Meaning of Unity,” asserted that unity is at the forefront of political debates and ALBA is the fundamental alternative for integration.

“Unity resurfaces as a priority. ALBA, conceived by Bolívar and Chávez, is an anti-systemic initiative, it is a proposal for integration within diversity”, she highlighted.

Irreversibility… Like the full moon

In a second moment, Jorge Arreaza presented his book “Irreversibility… Like the full moon. Chronicle of the last proclamation”, a work that describes his own experience with Commander Hugo Chávez, the most difficult days as leader of the Bolivarian Revolution, and how he suffered a serious illness.

In the pages of this book, Arreaza also recounts conversations with Commander Fidel Castro about Chávez’s health, complex medical treatments, among other topics. “That was very tough, it was December, we didn’t know if he would survive the operation, it was known that his life was at risk”, expressed Arreaza from the National Art Gallery.

Arreaza revealed that the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, asked him to write this story, “a testimony not from politics, but from the heart”.

Readers will be able to learn about everything Hugo Chávez experienced in Havana, Cuba, and later in Caracas, at the Military Hospital, in January 2013.

Regarding this story, Surirma Prieto, a community member from Bolívar state, commented on the text: “This book, I ask, should be in every heart of every Commune (…) I lived this book, I met Hugo Chávez thanks to Jorge Arreaza with this wonderful book.”

Meanwhile, the philosopher and director of the Pueblos Institute, Luis Berrizbeitia, shared that this book allows to build what Commander Hugo Chávez proposed for future generations. “Thank you, Jorge, for sitting down and writing it (…) And thank you very much, especially, to the Venezuelan people, to the community members, to all those who are in the spirit of this proclamation of Commander Hugo Chávez and that Jorge captures today”, he said.

The Alliance of Simón Bolívar

The FILVEN 2024 also hosted and was the setting for the baptism of the book “The Alliance of Simón Bolívar“, where Arreaza highlighted that this work was written using the method of the teacher Simón Rodríguez: “the school for everyone”.

He explained that this edition is written in a non-conventional way. Without periods in some paragraphs, messages with drawings, and the use of capital letters in a diverse and unexpected manner. “You will be able to see, from pages 52-53, that it is written in a non-traditional way, the Simón Rodríguez’ method”.

On the other hand, he said that “The Alliance of Simón Bolívar” also promotes unity as the only way for the defense and projection of the region against the onslaught of capitalism and American imperialism.

Nelson Chávez, a researcher at the Samuel Robinson Institute for Original Thought, stated that in this book, the author’s attempt, his proposal is to try to make Simón Bolívar’s alliance speech “touch the heart of every reader”.

He emphasized that, “the Liberator will always need to be defended (…) The author brings us a new Liberator, a liberator who did not exist or who was getting shape in the songs with justice, with freedom, with greatness, with the beauty of the Liberator that had been hidden from us for 200 years.”

Similarly, Valentina Vadell, editor of Vadell Publishers, indicated that this second edition of the book “is to highlight the work done by Jorge Arreaza and democratize it so that everyone can have it.”

“Without a doubt, this book is inspired by Simón Rodríguez, and in which we all feel part of, which is Our America, that American union that the Liberator Simón Bolívar spoke so much about,” Vadell referred to when presenting this work, which she described as a historical manifesto.

President Arce expressed his gratitude to the support of ALBA-TCP countries in the face of the attempted coup

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Caracas, July 10, 2024.- The President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Luis Arce, participated in the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) held via videoconference, where he updated the Heads of State and Government of the other nine member countries on the […]

Caracas, July 10, 2024.- The President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Luis Arce, participated in the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) held via videoconference, where he updated the Heads of State and Government of the other nine member countries on the events following the attempted coup on June 26th.

Arce highlighted the importance of recovering democratic values and rejecting any attempt to divide the Andean country. 

The President emphasized that those who promote a military coup have interests that are not aligned with those of the Bolivian people, seeking to establish a fascist government in the region. 

In this sense, he thanked the solidarity of the presidents and prime ministers of ALBA-TCP and invited them to support the bloc’s declaration in favor of democracy and against any threat of destabilization.

He called for unity within ALBA-TCP to maintain peace in Latin America, emphasizing that peace and social justice must prevail over imperialist and fascist interests. 

Arce concluded by stating that only through unity and resistance of the peoples, a better future can be guaranteed.

President Maduro participated in the 10th Summit of ALBA-TCP in support of Bolivia

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Caracas, July 10, 2024.- “I vote with both hands for this powerful Declaration of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP).”  The statement corresponds to the Head of State and Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, who reaffirmed his support for the Government of […]

Caracas, July 10, 2024.- “I vote with both hands for this powerful Declaration of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP).” 

The statement corresponds to the Head of State and Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, who reaffirmed his support for the Government of Bolivia and its President Luis Arce during his participation in the 10th Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP).

“To my brothers and sisters of the ALBA-TCP, the full support of the Venezuelan people. Bolivia has set an example of responsiveness”, he expressed. 

The president, in his speech via video conference, emphasized the attempted coup in Bolivia, confirming the ongoing conspiracy against autonomous processes in the region.

In this scenario, he highlighted that the path to the right to peace, stability, and development is strengthened. He also recalled that the Venezuelan right-wing came out to praise the coup in Bolivia. 

He also reiterated that “from Venezuela, we are proud of the people of Bolivia, of their courage, their power, and their strength”.

In this context, the ALBA-TCP announced on Wednesday morning an extraordinary virtual meeting of Heads of State and Government, stating through its social media account X that the dignitaries are meeting to denounce the attempted coup in Bolivia – which occurred on June 26 – and reaffirm support for President Luis Arce’s government.

Antigua and Barbuda rejects any attempt to seize political power through non-democratic means

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Caracas, July 10, 2024 – The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, during his speech at the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), virtually held, condemned the attempted coup d’état carried out by the right in the Plurinational State of Bolivia.  […]

Caracas, July 10, 2024 – The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, during his speech at the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), virtually held, condemned the attempted coup d’état carried out by the right in the Plurinational State of Bolivia. 

In this regard, he expressed his full support for the approved Declaration, condemning the inappropriate military actions in the highland country, while reiterating his country’s disagreement with any attempt to seize power through non-democratic means.

Likewise, Browne applauded the holding of this summit and described it as very important, as it allows addressing “the attempted coup in Bolivia as a threat to democracy stability in the region”.

In that sense, he reiterated his continuous support to the President of Bolivia, Luis Arce, and called on the Bolivian people to confront these “mafia acts and defend democracy”.

Furthermore, he highlighted Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to the principles of ALBA-TCP, such as solidarity, cooperation, respect for the sovereignty of countries, and the protection of democratic traditions. 

Finally, the Prime Minister took the opportunity to express his solidarity with Saint Vincent and Grenada for the lives lost and the damages caused by Hurricane Beryl.

Cuba condemns coup threats in Latin America during the 10th ALBA-TCP Extraordinary Summit

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Caracas, July 10, 2024.- During the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), held virtually this Wednesday, the President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, expressed his strong support for Bolivian President Luis Arce, following the coup attempt orchestrated two weeks ago by a group of […]

Caracas, July 10, 2024.- During the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), held virtually this Wednesday, the President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, expressed his strong support for Bolivian President Luis Arce, following the coup attempt orchestrated two weeks ago by a group of insurgent military personnel with economic interests in the nation and belonging to imperialism.

The Head of State strongly condemned this and all events that threaten democratic stability in Latin America. 

During his speech, Díaz-Canel emphasized the importance of defending legitimate constitutional order and recalled the proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, approved 10 years ago at the Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Havana.

He also emphasized the urgent need for unity and solidarity to confront the far-right and its advance on the continent, which, according to his words, seeks to destabilize governments of popular supportthrough manipulation and deceit. 

He also warned that the rise to power of these figures will bring periods of repression, persecution of social leaders, implementation of neoliberal policies, and the surrender of natural resources, as has happened in other historical times. 

In this sense, the Cuban President rejected any form of intervention in the internal affairs of the sovereign States of the bloc. He also urged support for progressive governments that are being attacked by oligarchies.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves: what happened in Bolivia calls us to unity

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Caracas, July 10, 2024.- “Those who acted against the President of Bolivia, Luis Arce, not only acted against democracy, but they are also trying to destroy integrity and freedom”, stated the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, during his speech at the 10th Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples […]

Caracas, July 10, 2024.- “Those who acted against the President of Bolivia, Luis Arce, not only acted against democracy, but they are also trying to destroy integrity and freedom”, stated the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, during his speech at the 10th Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP).

During the video conference meeting held to denounce the attempted coup in Bolivia and reaffirm support for its government, Gonsalves expressed, “I congratulate the people of Bolivia for coming out to defend their elected President and their government. What happened in Bolivia tells us that progressive forces must be united”.

Likewise, he stated that the people who voted for Luis Arce deserve to be respected and emphasized that anyone who tries to disrespect this is undermining democracy and political authority.

Gonsalves reiterated that, “we denounce the attempted coup in Bolivia. When a group of personswith military strength force decides that they are going to use force against a democratically elected government, fundamentally, it is not only democracy they are undermining, but it is a disregard for the integrity and the freedom of men and women”.

On June 26th, the military forces of Bolivia attempted to stage a coup against the constitutional government of Arce, however, the mobilization of the people and the international community stopped the attack and democracy and the will of the majority were restored. 

Regarding this event, the Alliance approved on July 10th at the 10th Summit of Heads of State and Government, the Draft Declaration of this meeting, through which it condemns the coup and reaffirms the will for peace in the region.

ALBA-TCP condemns any coup d’état in the region and reaffirms support for Arce’s government

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Caracas, July 10, 2024.- This Wednesday, the Heads of State and Government of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) held the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the regional bloc to denounce the attempted coup in Bolivia and reaffirm support for President Luis Arce’s government. Through a video conference, […]

Caracas, July 10, 2024.- This Wednesday, the Heads of State and Government of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) held the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the regional bloc to denounce the attempted coup in Bolivia and reaffirm support for President Luis Arce’s government.

Through a video conference, the Executive Secretary of the Alliance, Jorge Arreaza, read the Declaration of the extraordinary meeting, approved by the Heads of State of the member countries, regarding the attack against the constitutional government of the Plurinational State of Bolivia on June 26.

“We, the Heads of State and Government, representatives of the ALBA-TCP member countries, gathered on July 10, 2024, declare that last June 26, in the Plurinational State of Bolivia, military troops and artillery assault vehicles, under the command of the former Commander of the Army Gen. Juan José Zúñiga, together with the former Commanders of the Air Force Gen. Av. Marcelo Zegarra and of the Navy Con. Juan Arnez S, broke into the Plaza Murillo, seat of government in La Paz, with the purpose of staging a coup d’état and taking control of the government by force of arms, breaking the legitimate constitutional order”, the document approved reads.

In this regard, the Alliance made it clear its “firm rejection of any coup d’état or attempted coup d’état, in any form whatsoever, as they represent a threat to democracy, to the constitutional order, to peace and to the well-being of the people”.

ALBA also condemned the position of the President of the Argentine Republic, Javier Milei, who “continues with his aggressions against the Government and people of Bolivia.”

On the other hand, the bloc expressed unwavering commitment to the self-determination and sovereignty of Bolivia and affirmed that it is a nation of peace, “, in which we are committed to eradicate forever the use or threat of the use of force”, Jorge Arreaza read during his speech at the summit.

Here are the points approved in the Declaration of the 10th Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of ALBA-TCP:

  1. Reaffirm our commitment and unrestricted support for the constitutional and legitimate government of the President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Luis Arce Catacora.
  2. Congratulate President Luis Arce and his people who, in a few hours, defeated the coup plans.
  3. Reaffirm that Latin America and the Caribbean is a Zone of Peace, in which we are committed to eradicate forever the use or threat of the use of force and where States promote integration and cooperation processes and friendly relations, in order to guarantee the greatest possible stability and development.
  4. Demand to the Government of President Milei to immediately cease the harassment and the aggression against the legitimate Government of Bolivia, as well as offenses against other ALBA-TCP countries. We call the world’s attention to the fact that the Argentine President deploys a policy with imperialist leanings towards progressive and leftist governments, which only encourage hatred, polarization and destabilization of dignified and sovereign peoples.
  5. Denounce that within the framework of the hybrid war, a brutal media and social network war, a systematic harassment, economic blockade and diverse forms of political aggression are being deployed, aimed at discrediting the government of President Arce and creating the conditions for a larger scale intervention and the shortening of his constitutional term in office.
  6. Express the greatest solidarity with President Luis Arce and other public servants of his government, who are being subjected to a smear campaign by right-wing political sectors.
  7. Urge the Ambassadors of the ALBA-TCP member countries around the world to develop a campaign of information and dissemination of the truth about what is happening in the Plurinational State of Bolivia and the threats it faces.
  8. Call upon social movements, workers, students, peasants, indigenous peoples and intellectuals to continue to be vigilant in order to inform the whole world about the dangers that threaten the constitutional order and the democracy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, together in solid unity, which is fundamental for the preservation and progress of the social changes of that beloved nation, and also, for the unity and defense of Our America.
  9. Confirm our regional commitment to the defense of the sovereignty on the strategic resources existing in our territories, a reason for the ambition of foreign interests alien to our regional reality and perpetrators of subversive destabilization campaigns and coups d’état.
  10. Reaffirm that ALBA-TCP will continue to promote the defense of the strategic resources existing in Our America from the voracious intentions of foreign forces, as well as the promotion of unity, integration, solidarity and peaceful coexistence, as an expression of the Latin American and Caribbean ideal and commitment to the construction of a region and a world of peace, as a fundamental basis for consolidating sustainable development and harmonious relations among peoples.

ALBA voices

During the summit, the representation of Nicaragua affirmed, on behalf of the people and the Government, that it defends the tranquility, security, peace, and democracy of Latin America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

“We denounce the maneuvers and military movements taking place in Bolivia, in an attempt to intimidate the efforts of the people of that brother country to transcend and advance in their own paths, according to their own democratic models”.

Furthermore, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Grenada, Joseph Andall, reiterated the full support of his people and government for President Luis Arce and for the Bolivians who defend peace and democracy.

“Our keyword must be vigilance, the mobilization of the people must be constantly present in all our political actions (…) we denounce the attempted coup in Bolivia, we consider it a frontal attack on democracy”, he added.

Similarly, the ambassador of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Norgen Wilson, expressed his support for the constitutionally elected government of Arce and called for unity throughout the region to prevent violence.

He stated that having defeated the attempted coup in Bolivia, “is not only a victory for Bolivia, it is a victory for all our brothers and sisters within ALBA, it is a victory for democracy”, Wilson highlighted.

Finally, the Minister of Finance of Dominica, Irving McIntyre, also expressed solidarity with the people of Bolivia and acknowledged the challenges faced by the democratically elected government since 2020, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dominica expressed full support for the summit declaration and expressed its gratitude to the organization of this important meeting to share and promote solidarity.

A meeting was held in Caracas for the creation of the ALBA-TCP Development Cooperation Agency

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Caracas, July 2, 2024.- This Tuesday, a meeting was held in the capital of Venezuela for the creation of the Development Cooperation Agency of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), including video conferencing for those countries that could not attend in person due to the impact of […]

Caracas, July 2, 2024.- This Tuesday, a meeting was held in the capital of Venezuela for the creation of the Development Cooperation Agency of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), including video conferencing for those countries that could not attend in person due to the impact of Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean.

During his welcoming remarks at La Casona Cultural Aquiles Nazoa, the Executive Secretary of the Alliance, Jorge Arreaza, highlighted the importance – in light of climate change and its consequences – of mobilizing resources for cooperation from the member countries of the regional bloc and other international organizations. “Our Alliance, as President Miguel Díaz-Canel (Cuba) says, has the most humane achievements that can exist in any union mechanism. The number of people who have had eye surgeries, the number of doctors trained, the number of literate individuals, those assisted during disasters, and this has been done over almost 20 years and it is time for that cooperation to take on an organic, institutional form”, he emphasized.

In this regard, he stated that the creation of the Development Cooperation Agency of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America rules out the generation of new bureaucracy, but rather is a fundamental body to promote integration and humanitarian aid in a real and direct manner, “using the capacities we already have, such as the Bank of ALBA”

He reiterated that it is necessary to take advantage of the Bank of ALBA and a “bank of projects of different scales” in order to address natural emergencies and contingencies that may arise due to environmental disorder.

Arreaza explained that once the agency is established, the Executive Secretary and the Bank of ALBA would be responsible for the operation of this cooperation body: receiving projects, estimates, among other duties.

Finally, the Executive Secretary indicated that the ALBA-TCP Development Cooperation Agency is essential for the liberation of our peoples.

Bank of ALBA: optimization of funds

The President of the Bank of ALBA, Raúl Li Causi, stated that “the ALBA-TCP Development Cooperation Agency is the tool that our leaders have put at the service of the people, of the countries in the bloc, with a focus on the development and implementation of the 2030 ALBA-TCP Strategic Agenda.

Li Causi explained that this includes planning and optimization of funds, support to the Executive Secretariat in fundraising, coordination of humanitarian aids, and technical assistance for project formulation.

He mentioned that the Agency can rely on the Bank of ALBA for fiduciary management of funds, resources, and assets related to cooperation for the benefit of the region.

Li Causi detailed that the Bank of ALBA is willing to finance projects focused on renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, natural resource management, infrastructure, health, technology, digital communication, tourism, among others.

He added that funds can be raised from international organizations such as the United Nations, which has specialized agencies, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), cooperation agencies, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, and the private sector.

ALBA: example of cooperation

Additionally, the Foreign Minister of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Yván Gil, emphasized that in order to achieve the 2030 ALBA Agenda, it is a priority to establish the ALBA-TCP Development Cooperation Agency.

“Today we would like, first and foremost, to reaffirm ALBA as the regional political space that has made the most progress in cooperation for development, compared to any global experience”, Gil stated.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Venezuela is confident that the Agency is capable of attracting resources from major international actors such as China, Russia, and Turkiye.

To conclude, the Vice President for Planning of the Bolivarian country, Ricardo Menéndez, stated that historic times are coming, which is why he considers this Agency to be a cornerstone for facing the challenges of the future and “generating antidotes against the aggressions that our peoples have suffered”.

He affirmed that the ALBA-TCP Development Cooperation Agency is the driving force to create logistics that allow us to face the consequences of climate change, help peoples affected by hurricanes or other natural disasters; but also to define agendas that can provide solutions to all humanitarian issues.