Cooperation, unity and agreement are the main topics to develop in the Council’s anniversary

Leer en Español: Futuro del ALBA se dialoga en La Habana

Last December 14, it took place in Havana, Cuba the XVI Political Council of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples Trade Treaty (ALBA – TCP).  The meeting gathered ministers and representatives of the countries that are part of the council. 

The ALBA council is the integration of Latin American and Caribbean countries. The event aims to reaffirm the unity and cooperation among the member countries in order to explore new opportunities for integration, cooperation, and solidarity among the nations. Also, its purpose is to reduce the current juncture between members of the committee.

Initially, the council was created between Cuba and Venezuela as a project of political, social and economic collaboration in the regions. Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez were the founders of the council on December 14, 2004. Nowadays, it integrates more countries and the council is as an alternative to the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas), which was promoted by the United States. The regions that currently integrate the committee are Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, The Commonwealth of Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Vincent, The Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Granada.

In addition to the economic mechanisms and the political coordination with which ALBA counts, at present, different agencies have been created to enhance cooperation between regions such as Petrocaribe. This oil alliance sets that Venezuela supplies hydrocarbons to Caribbean nations with accessible prices and ease of acquisition.

According to El Financiero, the Cuban President Raul Castro, as well as leaders of the Community of Caribbean States (CARICOM), have requested to “do not allow that Venezuela suffers continuous actions for the destruction of its constitutional order”. Furthermore, Foreign Affairs representatives have qualified the international attempts to analyzed Venezuela’s condition and Nicolas Maduro’s government as “gross”. 

On the other hand, the Bolivian President Evo Morales in his Twitter account (@evoespuebolo) qualified the committee as a dignity tool for Latin-American and he greeted the members of the Council. The mandatary also highlighted the importance of the milestone that implied the “liberation of ALCA” that was created by the United States. 

LatinAmerican Post | Cristina Torres

Copy edited by Marcela Peñaloz