Caracas, April 18, 2024.- “We are living a very hard period, a period with a wounded imperialism but it is not over yet (…) There is a ruthless persecution triggered against any country and spokespersons speaking against the U.S. empire”. Such was the words of Argentine sociologist and political expert Atilio Borón, during the Seminar […]
Caracas, April 18, 2024.- “We are living a very hard period, a period with a wounded imperialism but it is not over yet (…) There is a ruthless persecution triggered against any country and spokespersons speaking against the U.S. empire”.
Such was the words of Argentine sociologist and political expert Atilio Borón, during the Seminar on Dangers and Threats to Humanity, during the Gathering for a World Social Alternative, which will be held until April 20 at the Meliá Hotel in Caracas, organized by the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) and the Simón Bolívar Institute.
During his speech he stressed that today the war is being waged in the media “and if we do not understand this, we will continue to be victims of the empire. The media blatantly lie. Our activism in the networks is fundamental to fight imperialism,” he said.
In his opinion, this attack by the United States against any country opposing its interests can be stopped through regional integration and the promotion of alternatives that strengthen the multipolar international system.
In this sense, he stressed that the Alliance is an essential regional union mechanism to counter the new attacks emerging within capitalism and its allied countries.
Additionally, William Castillo, director of the Venezuelan Anti-Blockade Observatory and one of the speakers at this seminar, stated that Venezuela cannot accept foreign interference, and claimed that the sanctions against Venezuela, reaffirmed again by the U.S. Government against the country, will not have the impact they had in 2016 and 2017, since the country is now strengthened.
He said that despite the fact that Venezuela is complying with the dialogue process and the Barbados agreements, the United States continues to intensify its policy of sanctions against the Bolivarian Republic.
Caracas, April 18, 2024.- Today, Thursday, the Gathering for a World Social Alternative began in Caracas, an open debate that will be held until April 20 in the Venezuelan capital, and it is organized by the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) and the Simón Bolívar Institute (ISB […]
Caracas, April 18, 2024.- Today, Thursday, the Gathering for a World Social Alternative began in Caracas, an open debate that will be held until April 20 in the Venezuelan capital, and it is organized by the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) and the Simón Bolívar Institute (ISB in Spanish).
From the Manzanares Room at the Meliá Hotel in Caracas, the Executive Secretary of the Alliance, Jorge Arreaza, welcomed delegates from 60 countries, and stated that all peoples are called to unite and to create an alternative agenda to “hit hard at capitalism”.
“Only we can present an alternative to the world before a declining imperialism, which, like a wounded beast, is lashing out (…) there is no more time for pettiness. This is the moment to be united”.
Arreaza mentioned that one of the purposes of this meeting is to be able to present the document World Social Alternative, as well as to develop a “diagnosis of the monster and its moment, the dangers of imperialism at this moment. But also, an agenda of education, culture, organization, social transformation”.
“Today we have to bury all the weapons of capital, all the weapons of imperialism,” Arreaza affirmed, while stressing that it is with union and taking over all political spaces that the imperial clutches can be overthrown.
Meanwhile, the president of the Simon Bolivar Institute, Carlos Ron, said that the Gathering for a Social Alternative is key to raise battle and justice flags in the world.
“This is a meeting to remember the spirit of unity and ALBA, led by giants such as Comandante Fidel Castro and President Hugo Chávez,” he said.
This April 18, 19 and 20 Caracas is the venue for the Gathering for a World Social Alternative, an opportunity to promote unity and the design of an agenda to protect the Latin American and Caribbean regions against the imperial attacks of this new time.
Caracas, April 17, 2024.- This April 18, 19 and 20, Caracas will host the World Gathering for a Social Alternative, an opportunity to promote unity and the design of an agenda to protect the Latin American and Caribbean region against the imperial attacks of this new time. This event – organized by the Bolivarian Alliance […]
Caracas, April 17, 2024.- This April 18, 19 and 20, Caracas will host the World Gathering for a Social Alternative, an opportunity to promote unity and the design of an agenda to protect the Latin American and Caribbean region against the imperial attacks of this new time.
This event – organized by the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) and the Simón Bolívar Institute (ISB) – will bring together member countries of the bloc, leaders and social movements of the region in activities and working meetings to be held at the Meliá Hotel in Caracas.
On Thursday, April 18, the event begins with a cultural presentation and welcoming remarks by the ALBA Executive Secretary, Jorge Arreaza.
Subsequently, there will be seminars on Dangers and Threats to Humanity; Decadent Civilization; One Imperialism, One Enemy; and The Need for a Common Project.
Speakers include intellectuals and social leaders such as Atilio Borón (Argentina), Rania Khalek (USA/Lebanon), Juan Carlos Monedero (Spain), Carlos Rosero (Colombia), Tebogo Phadu (South Africa), Marta Martín (Spain), Abel Prieto (Cuba), Messilene Gorete (Brazil), among others.
On April 19, the gathering will focus on two outstanding debates: The principle of Unity as a changing element, led by the Executive Secretary of the Alliance, Jorge Arreaza; and Hyper-imperialism and a World Social Alternative, led by Vijay Prashad, of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research.
On the other hand, members of ALBA-TCP, ISB and leaders of social movements will organize solidarity calls this Friday with Palestine, Cuba, Haiti and Jorge Glass, leader and former vice-president of Ecuador.
Following the agenda, the Seminar of Anti-imperialist Youth in Struggle and for Solidarity will be held on Saturday 20, starting at 9:00 in the morning. The World Gathering for a Social Alternative will be broadcasted on all ALBA-TCP social networks, in line with the Alliance’s vision of fully connecting with the peoples.
Likewise, this debate is fundamental to design strategies to counter the new and dangerous form of intervention by U.S. imperialism in the region, which is intensifying the so-called sanctions against Venezuela and other sister countries in the world.
The ALBA-TCP Executive Secretariat and the Simón Bolívar Institute affirm that the purpose of these sessions is to propose an agenda of concrete actions that the peoples could implement to face imperialism and its unsustainable economic and social model, and thus find common ground that could lead to collective solutions to the real problems of the peoples and to the construction of a new civilizing model.
La Guaira, April 16, 2024.- As part of the World Gathering for a Social Alternative, to be held in Caracas on April 18 and 19, there was a meeting with social movements in La Guaira state, in the Venezuelan central-north coast, where the Executive Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America […]
La Guaira, April 16, 2024.- As part of the World Gathering for a Social Alternative, to be held in Caracas on April 18 and 19, there was a meeting with social movements in La Guaira state, in the Venezuelan central-north coast, where the Executive Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Jorge Arreaza, raised the need to “create this opportunity to listen to each other, to develop a method of permanent interaction between the ALBA governments and the peoples”.
During his speech, the Diplomat highlighted that the world is going through a very dangerous moment, defined as hyper-imperialism which implies the decline of a model, a process difficult to predict, so “it is time to gather (…) as peoples we have the historical duty to put aside our differences and groups and agree on everything we can”.
Arreaza urged to start with a minimum common agenda, a coordinated agenda of the movements and peoples of the world. “This moment forces us, compels us to get the peoples organized and assume the corresponding role at the forefront of the processes,” the Executive Secretary stressed.
During the meeting, Llanisca Lugo, member of the Martin Luther King Center, agreed that this is a historic moment for the movements to strengthen themselves in order to create a common agenda with concrete proposals.
Irene León, a Ecuadorian political analyst, stated that ALBA-TCP should be an “axis for the joint coordination of all our peoples regardless of the countries”, while highlighting the role of Commander Hugo Chávez as a promoter of Latin American integration, not only of the Alliance, but also of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which emerged with their own particularities in response to the great challenge of building a multipolar and pluricentric world.
He explained that all integration organizations in the world focus, at their core, on uniting to achieve greater competitiveness, to capitalize, which is why ALBA-TCP is unique, because since its creation it has been proposed as an anti-capitalist alternative, it has the capacity to propose something different from the free trade of the capitalist model, such as the People’s Trade Treaty.
León added that the regional bloc, made up of 10 countries, proposes values contrary to competition, such as solidarity, economic complementarity and reciprocity.
He urged work on a financial structure and a regional financial institution as a condition for the implementation of an alternative model, far from capitalist speculation, that meets the socioeconomic needs of the region.
Caracas, April 15, 2024.- The Executive Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Jorge Arreaza, stated via his account on X, that the regional bloc embraces Bolivarian Diplomacy, promoted by Commander Hugo Chávez and President Nicolás Maduro Moros, as the method to achieve and foster world […]
Caracas, April 15, 2024.- The Executive Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Jorge Arreaza, stated via his account on X, that the regional bloc embraces Bolivarian Diplomacy, promoted by Commander Hugo Chávez and President Nicolás Maduro Moros, as the method to achieve and foster world peace.
“Bolivarian Peace Diplomacy is our path and our proposal to prevent and tackle wars and conflicts among nations,” he said.
Arreaza recalled, “In 2018, under the Venezuelan Chairmanship, the Non-Aligned Movement proposed at the UN to establish April 24 as Multilateralism and Peace Diplomacy Day, an initiative approved by the UN General Assembly, accepting this concept as a contribution and method to ensure global stability and security”.
According to the Secretary, today more than ever, the international system must commit to dialogue, diplomacy and respect for international law and the rights of peoples, addressing the structural and original causes of potential or ongoing wars and conflicts without fear or pressure.
“As Mahatma Gandhi told us: there is no way to peace, peace is the way,” he closed.
In this regard, the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace is celebrated in April. This was established by the United Nations in 2018, with the aim of promoting understanding and cessation of conflicts among nations.
In Venezuela, Bolivarian Peace Diplomacy has made significant progress. The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, highlighted in January 2024 that the South American nation achieved great victories through this method in 2023.
“We managed to consolidate the geopolitical vision of the Great Homeland and break the international isolation that imperialism had subjected Venezuela to, although they were never able to isolate us totally, they did a lot of damage”, the Head of State said on that occasion.
Antigua and Barbuda, April 6, 2024.- The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, welcomed the Executive Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Jorge Arreaza, this Friday, April 5. During the meeting held at the Government House in St. John’s, Browne and Arreaza discussed the upcoming ALBA Summit, which gathers 10 countries: Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, […]
Antigua and Barbuda, April 6, 2024.- The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, welcomed the Executive Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Jorge Arreaza, this Friday, April 5.
During the meeting held at the Government House in St. John’s, Browne and Arreaza discussed the upcoming ALBA Summit, which gathers 10 countries: Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada and St. Lucia.
This meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss the purposes and strategies of the 2030 Agenda, which has five horizons as its main focus: economic, political, social, cultural and communicational.
The Executive Secretary said that ALBA’s Agenda 2030 is intended to give an extraordinary drive to the process of comprehensive consolidation of the bloc, with high-impact actions proposed within the short and medium term.
Besides, they addressed the upcoming Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, to be held from May 27 to 30 in Antigua and Barbuda, in which Arreaza expressed ALBA-TCP’s full support.
This important meeting was also attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Trade of Antigua and Barbuda, Everly Chet Greene; and on behalf of Venezuela, the President of the Bank of ALBA and Vice Minister for the Caribbean, Raúl Li Causi.
Caracas, March 26, 2024.- In an interview with Unión Radio, in Caracas, on “Al instante”, the Executive Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Jorge Arreaza, highlighted that this mechanism embodies Bolivar’s spirit of unity beyond integration, which was adopted by Commanders Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro. He […]
Caracas, March 26, 2024.- In an interview with Unión Radio, in Caracas, on “Al instante”, the Executive Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Jorge Arreaza, highlighted that this mechanism embodies Bolivar’s spirit of unity beyond integration, which was adopted by Commanders Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro.
He highlighted that ALBA must be the great unifying factor. “It is a people’s alliance”, so any social movement of the continent and beyond can join, any local government can join, “we must be the force being peoples, which is the driving force of any process of humanity”.
He also stressed that ALBA-TCP has the “responsibility of engaging the rest of the integration mechanisms to build the definitive union, to gradually develop the CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) called for by Simón Bolívar through the Congress of Panama in 1826, but in these times we must (…) Build the pole of our America within the framework of a multipolar world”.
Regarding the member countries under sanctions by imperialism, the Executive Secretary stated that Venezuela is emerging with 100% of its own effort. “Cuba with its historical lesson and Nicaragua, without a doubt, will succeed. Our continent has always been under dispute since the Europeans set foot here. This very century must be the century of the victory of the Latin American and Caribbean peoples, the century of Our America, for which ALBA-TCP is essential and that is why empires are attacking it.
BRICS and Southern Command
When asked about Venezuela’s intention to become a regular member of BRICS, Arreaza said that the platform of emerging countries represents the positive pole of alliances facing the G7, the G20. “It represents a different alternative. I believe that Venezuela has a very high probability of joining BRICS soon and acting as a bridge, at first, and then as a window for other ALBA countries, with enough economic capacity and demographic weight, to join BRICS and its Bank”.
Likewise, the official was asked about his opinion on the intention expressed by the Head of the U.S. Southern Command, Laura Richardson, to control the natural resources of the region and he replied that “imperialism is very arrogant. This lady has followed the same strategy of trying to subjugate by force, in this case, countries that sovereignly decide their own path and, on top of that, to say it with such impudence. We have to protect those natural resources, oil, gas, lithium, minerals”.
The Executive Secretary added that the recent protest in Cuba due to power service failures caused by the U.S. blockade was magnified in the media, since “they tried to create the idea that a people had rebelled and that was not the case. The virtual scenario of the media must be analyzed very critically, because they are usually lying to us through these channels”.
He also referred to the recent communiqué of the ALBA-TCP countries in rejection of new sanctions against Nicaragua, affirming that Sandinismo has a strength and has the right to develop its internal process as they decide, “but this is not accepted in this hyper-imperialism”.
Venezuelan elections
The Venezuelan diplomat talked about the presidential elections in his country, scheduled for July 28 and that just concluded the process of registration of candidates. “We are in the first step of an electoral campaign that people have to assess very well, because we come from the greatest aggression of our republican history, we are still suffering it, the 930 sanctions are intact”.
He remarked that President Nicolás Maduro and his supporters have always been faithful to the constitutional calendar of elections and, once again, people have the chance to choose.
The Executive Secretariat of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) categorically condemns the terrorist attack perpetrated against innocent civilians at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia. Likewise, this Executive Secretariat repudiates any act of violence that threatens the life and security of citizens, and expresses its […]
The Executive Secretariat of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) categorically condemns the terrorist attack perpetrated against innocent civilians at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia.
Likewise, this Executive Secretariat repudiates any act of violence that threatens the life and security of citizens, and expresses its solidarity and condolences to the Russian people and government.
The ALBA-TCP Executive Secretariat rejects this unfortunate situation and reaffirms its commitment to peace, tolerance and respect for human life.
Caracas, March 20, 2024.- The Executive Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Jorge Arreaza, rejected accusations made against countries of the bloc by the Head of the U.S. Southern Command, Laura J. Richardson, this Wednesday. After labeling Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua as nations that support […]
Caracas, March 20, 2024.- The Executive Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Jorge Arreaza, rejected accusations made against countries of the bloc by the Head of the U.S. Southern Command, Laura J. Richardson, this Wednesday.
After labeling Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua as nations that support alleged “malign activities in the region”, Arreaza stated via the X social network that “As @ALBATCP Executive Secretary, I reject the cynicism, arrogance and insolence of this U.S. ‘Military Commander’. There is nothing that has contributed more to the destabilization of democratic processes in the region than Washington’s permanent and warlike interference”.
The Secretary of the Alliance added that for the Head of the Southern Command “it is not enough to confess that they intend to steal the natural resources of our countries, to now qualify and threaten the governments of the Bolivarian Alliance”.
Arreaza affirmed that Richardson, like all previous Commanders, will fail in their expansionist intentions to dominate the sovereign peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Richardson made these statements on March 19 from Washington during a meeting with “international experts”. In this context, she accused especially Nicaragua, a member of ALBA, of supporting “malign activities” in the region.
In a public appearance at the Atlantic Council, the U.S. military officer stated that she is also “concerned” about China’s close relations with Latin American and Caribbean countries. The relations between the Asian country and the region are considered by Richardson as a “challenging” action for the United States.
Moreover, the Head of the Southern Command also said that although her country has good relations with Argentina, they consider the Chinese space program being developed in that country as a danger and a threat.
Havana, Cuba, March 19, 2024.- The Executive Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Jorge Arreaza, had a meeting with members of the Government of the Republic of Cuba last Tuesday. The first meeting of the Executive Secretary of the Alliance was with the Cuban Vice-Minister […]
Havana, Cuba, March 19, 2024.- The Executive Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Jorge Arreaza, had a meeting with members of the Government of the Republic of Cuba last Tuesday.
The first meeting of the Executive Secretary of the Alliance was with the Cuban Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Josefina Vidal, to discuss the 2030 Agenda of the regional bloc.
Staff from the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs also attended the meeting, where they discussed the goals and challenges of the Caribbean country and the Alliance.
Regarding this important meeting, Vice-Minister Vidal expressed her great satisfaction for the dialogue with the Executive Secretary. “I am very pleased to meet Jorge Arreaza, the new Executive Secretary of Alliance, which is privileged to count on his experience and commitment to promote its integral consolidation. Vidal said through her social networks: “Excellent exchange of ideas on the strategic agenda of the Alliance. All support from Cuba”
Health for ALBA: coordination and exchange
On Tuesday afternoon, Arreaza also met with the President of Biocubafarma, Mayda Mauri Pérez, and the Vice-President of this institution, Luis Alarcón, to define some strategies to provide health care to the ALBA-TCP member countries.
The president of Biocubafarma and the Executive Secretary of the regional bloc assessed the possibilities of coordination and exchange for the member countries of the Alliance: Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica and St. Lucia.
In line with this cooperation and brotherhood focus, Pérez explained that Biocubafarma brings together 47 companies, 34 in the country and 13 abroad. They include research, development and production of medicines.
Mayda Mauri Pérez explained that this is an industry “where the purpose of research is to provide solutions to problems”.
She also expressed that “one of our founding principles is not to compete, but to complement each other”. Pérez highlighted that Biocubafarma works according to the national health system and, even though they are not part of the Ministry of Health, they work together in different programs.
This industry has been part of the Cuba-Venezuela Agreement from the very beginning, and it has played an essential role in Barrio Adentro 1 and Barrio Adentro 2 social programs, as well as in the different vaccination campaigns carried out in Venezuela, given that the production of vaccines is one of its strengths.
Promoting agriculture
Cuba’s Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Maury Hechavarría Bermúdez, and his office’s teams met with Jorge Arreaza to renew cooperation ties in this area, which has been affected in recent years by the U.S. government and the unilateral coercive measures imposed on some ALBA-TCP member countries.
Hechavarría stated that agriculture in Cuba has a great scientific potential that can contribute to the Alliance countries.
During the meeting, Arreaza added that “at such a time when imperialism is stumbling, we have to strengthen our union and our mechanisms, we have to strengthen the alliance and not only think about the impact it could have on Cuba and Venezuela, but on all the countries of the bloc”.
According to him, it is time to reactivate ALBA politically, socially and economically. “We have to study all the experiences in each country (…) to see what things we, as ALBA, can offer to the 10 members of the Alliance”.
The Executive Secretary recalled that the authorities of the member countries have made guaranteeing food sovereignty a priority.
He affirmed that ALBA-TCP is willing to receive technical assistance from Cuba as well as to develop complementary agricultural and livestock projects.
Furthermore, Jorge Arreaza stated that the Alliance is evaluating the Sucre currency “in the light of new technologies and the new financial world”.
Trade for integration
Likewise, the Secretary of the Alliance had the opportunity to meet with Oscar Pérez Oliva Fraga, First Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, to exchange views on the importance of connectivity through trade.
Both agreed that ALBA is an essential mechanism for cooperation and economic complementation.
“We are going to review those trade agreements, we are going to take a firm step towards viable projects, demonstrating that ALBA is alive, that ALBA exists and that ALBA is going to be a great response in this coming decade,” said Arreaza.
