En ocasión del vigésimo aniversario de la creación de la Alianza Bolivariana para los Pueblos de Nuestra América-Tratado de Comercio de los Pueblos (ALBA-TCP), inició este sábado en la capital venezolana la XXIV Cumbre de jefes de Estado y de Gobierno de esa plataforma integracionista.
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00:00President Maduro, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, dear Nicolás, it is
00:11always great and exciting to be in the beloved Caracas, in the land of Chavez, the eternal
00:17commander in the hearts of the Latin American people.
00:22And it is also good and exciting to be in these sacred places with the brothers and
00:29friends of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of our America, commemorating and
00:34transcending moments of our common history.
00:39Dear Presidents, Commander Daniel Ortega Saavedra and Luis Arce Catacora, esteemed Prime Ministers
00:46Ralph Gonsalves, Roosevelt Skerritt, Gaston Brown, esteemed representatives of the sister
00:53Republic of Honduras, to whose President Xiomara Castro I extend fraternal greetings.
01:05Dear Malki and representatives of the Palestinian State, to whom I reiterate our strongest solidarity
01:11of the Cuban people and government.
01:15That solidarity that we offer every single day to the hundreds of Palestinian students
01:22that are in Cuba.
01:27Comrade Jorge Arreaza, Executive Secretary of ALBATICIPI, heads of delegations and representatives
01:34of the nations that make up our alliance, distinguished guests, members of grassroots
01:40movements, participants.
01:44Twenty years have passed on the memorable evening of December 14, 2014, in Havana, when
01:52Fidel and Chavez sealed in an embrace the beginning of ALBA, an emancipating process
02:00that the time has been transforming in the embrace of our peoples.
02:05Five years later, ALBATICIPI achieved an international dimension with the incorporation first of
02:12Bolivia and Nicaragua, and later of Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Vincent and
02:18the Grenadines, the first three countries of the English-speaking Caribbean that honored
02:24us with their participation.
02:27With the subsequent incorporations of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Grenada and Saint Lucia,
02:32the alliance strengthened its voice and regional scope until it became what it is today, a
02:39space for fraternity, solidarity, cooperation, respect, unity, struggle for the interests
02:49of the dispossessed, the voice of those who are not heard, a space for the defense of
02:59the just causes of the world against imperialism and regional oligarchies.
03:04Today, we are joined by another summit of ALBATICIPI, a landmark in the battle for the
03:11defense of our America and social justice for a better possible world that we all desire.
03:20Not a single time we have missed the date, and we will never miss the date to the cause
03:27of Latin American integration that so many dreams and projects.
03:35Dreams and projects that Fidel and Chavez fostered and materialized as nobody did since
03:43the times of Bolivar to give response to the aspirations of millions of people.
03:51And those who follow in their footsteps, we need to foster and materialize with the same
03:56willpower when the times for our nations are not less challenging.
04:03Although the road has not been easy, the willpower of each of us to see the progress
04:09of ALBATICIPI allowed for this alliance to be consolidated into a process of inclusive
04:16integration that is distinguished with the coordination of actions to face the common
04:21dangers by always placing the well-being, development, and prosperity of our peoples
04:29at the center of our decisions, esteemed heads of state and government, friends.
04:36The threats to the security and stability of several of our countries have motivated
04:43the celebration of several meetings of this alliance this year to exchange on the very
04:47complex international and regional situation that we face.
04:53As Army General Raul Castro Ruz said at the 15th ALBATICIPI Summit, we are at a crucial
05:00stage of our history in which a setback at a regional scale would have a very negative
05:06impact on our peoples.
05:10Today, the system of international relations suffers from the imbalances of an unjust,
05:16unequal, and exclusionary international order.
05:20We are witness to the promotion of hate speech and violence, the encouragement of extremism,
05:26and the return to the old and not fully superseded mechanisms of imperialist domination.
05:33In addition to the attempted coup d'état and the persecution of left-wing and progressive
05:39political figures, there is a ferocious media machinery intended to sow terror and lies.
05:48The Monroe Doctrine and Manifest Destiny are not old theories from the 19th century.
05:55The expansionist and hegemonic concepts are more valid than ever in Latin America and the Caribbean.
06:05Imperialism and oligarchies will always have the perverse objective to divide our peoples,
06:13sow enmity among the governments of our region with the purpose of limiting the scope of
06:18public policies of a social nature, take hold of the valuable natural resources of this
06:25amazing geography, and undermine the progress of Latin America and Caribbean integration
06:31that would deepen our independence.
06:35They ignore international law and the most elementary rules of coexistence through the
06:45imposition of force, unilateralism, and blackmail.
06:53A profound reform of the current international order is needed in which solidarity and cooperation
07:01prevail over differences.
07:04It is indispensable to recover the value of multilateralism, which is necessary to advance
07:11towards a new order in which the countries of the South can participate on equal footing
07:15in decision-making processes at a global scale.
07:19We must put an end to this procession, to put an end to the philosophy of war, as Fidel
07:27said in one of his speeches at the United Nations.
07:30Colonialism, neocolonialism, growing fascism, and any other expression that threatens international
07:37peace and security come from the desire of possession and control, and the permanent
07:44attempt to dispossess others from their territories, their assets, and even their lives.
07:51The need for an international financial architecture that closes the abysmal gap that today separates
08:00the North and the South, that provides fair treatment to developing countries in the decision-making
08:07process and access to sources of financing, is increasingly evident.
08:14There is an urgent need, as never before, of full respect for the purposes and principles
08:19of the Charter of the United Nations, particularly the sovereign equality of states, the self-determination
08:25of the peoples, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and the rejection of the threat
08:31or the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
08:40The unwavering willingness and efforts of all for unity, integration, and peace are required.
08:47In this regard, we ratify the absolute relevance of the Proclamation of Latin America and the
08:53Caribbean as a zone of peace, in which we affirm our commitment to banish the use and
09:00threat of the use of force from the region forever.
09:05The traumatic and precipitated developments that took place in Syria that provoked a change
09:12in regime in that Arab nation are part of a dangerous and risky remodeling of the region
09:21of the Middle East at the service of the interests of the United States, Israel, and the West.
09:29We make a call upon preserving sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the independence
09:35of Syria as the unity of its people.
09:39Esteemed heads of state and government, friends, it is extremely alarming the growing trend
09:47to the application of unilateral coercive measures against the countries that do not submit to
09:57the imperial hegemony, causing intentional damages and politically motivated against
10:04the sovereignty of the states.
10:08They violate the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs and stop the efforts
10:15of nations in the promotion of full enjoyment of human rights.
10:19Once again, we demand the full, immediate, and unconditional elimination of all unilateral
10:27coercive measures.
10:35This is a historical claim of the international community set forth in the resolutions of
10:41the United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, as well as in various
10:47declarations of the non-aligned movements, the Group of 77 plus China, and the Group
10:54of Friends in defense of the United Nations Charter.
11:02Cuba has been imposed for 62 years the most severe and prolonged system of unilateral
11:09coercive measure ever applied against any nation.
11:14It is a deliberate act of economic warfare of a powerful empire against a small developing nation.
11:24It is a massive, flagrant, and systematic violation of the human rights of all Cubans
11:30and arouses the almost unanimous rejection of the international community.
11:36Since 2019, the blockade against Cuba has escalated to an extreme dimension, which is
11:43much more cruel and inhumane.
11:45It is not only expressed in high costs of material and financial resources, but also
11:54attacks the everyday life of our nation.
12:00The prolongation of this policy in time has an immeasurable psychological cost that brutally
12:06impacts the Cuban families, fracturing them, dividing them, and torturing them.
12:13And as these policies are executed, their designers are executors, cynically accuse
12:20the Cuban government of damaging the people with the lack that the American government
12:27has provoked.
12:29Its effects have been further reinforced with the arbitrary inclusion of Cuba in the State
12:34Department's unilateral list of countries that allegedly sponsor terrorism.
12:41This is an unfounded designation, void of any basis, authority, or international backing
12:46whatsoever, attempting to justify and tighten the siege against the Cuban revolution.
12:54It is not enough to acknowledge that Cuba cooperates fully with the United States in
12:58the fight against terrorism, as the State Department recently admitted.
13:04The international community widely recognizes that Cuba is not a terrorist country.
13:10Cuba must be removed without further delay from that spurious and unilateral list, for
13:16it is a fallacy that has a suffocating impact on our economy.
13:25We thank all the brotherly peoples and governments represented here for their permanent support
13:31to the call for the lifting of the blockade against Cuba and the removal of our country
13:37from the aforementioned unilateral list.
13:40We also extend our deep gratitude for the expressions of solidarity towards our people
13:46after the impact of the recent weather events that hit the island.
13:54The scenario that we face in the relations with the United States has come as no surprise
13:58to Cuba.
13:59It was a probable scenario and we have been preparing for it.
14:04But the policy of principles of the Cuban revolution is maintained invariable.
14:10We ratify our willingness to engage in serious and responsible dialogue, to advance towards
14:16a constructive and stabilized relationship based on sovereign equality, mutual respect,
14:22reciprocal benefit for both peoples, despite being aware of the profound political differences
14:28between our governments.
14:31Cuba reaffirms its determination to defend its sovereign rights, to build an independent
14:38socialist future of its own, free from foreign interference and committed to peace, sustainable
14:47development, social justice and solidarity.
14:52Dear brothers and sisters, we ratify our commitment to the defense of the proclamation
14:59of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace, which 10 years after its approval
15:04at the second DELAC summit held in Havana in January 2014 remains fully valid.
15:11We reiterate our solidarity with the countries gathered here, which have been the target
15:16of destabilization attempts and external interference.
15:22In particular, we reiterate our strongest support for the Bolivarian and Chavista revolution,
15:34wisely led by President Nicolás Maduro Moros, who remains determined to defend his people
15:41from the unacceptable external pressures.
15:45Questioning the institutionality and the loss of another country does not contribute to
15:51regional stability.
15:53It is up to the people of Bolivar and Chavez to decide on their future.
16:01We reiterate our full support to Commander President Daniel Ortega Saavedra and his people.
16:07The destabilizing actions against the Government of National Reconciliation and Unity of Nicaragua
16:18must cease.
16:20To the plurinational state of Bolivia, we express our support and solidarity in the
16:25defense of its sovereignty over its natural resources and in the face of destabilizing efforts.
16:33We welcome the holding of the fourth conference of Small Island Developing States in our dear
16:42sister nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
16:44We acknowledge the results achieved and the adoption of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda
16:50for Small Island Developing States, aimed at expanding cooperation, supporting debt
16:57sustainability and the means of implementation towards these countries.
17:04The Caribbean has and will always have a friend in Cuba, who will accompany them in their
17:10right to receive fair, special and differentiated treatment, which is essential to face the
17:15growing challenges arising from the current unjust international financial system and
17:22climate change, as well as in their legitimate claim for reparations and compensation for
17:28the horrors of slavery and colonialism.
17:34We claim for a free Puerto Rico.
17:42And we maintain our solidarity with Haiti.
17:46And we have the Cuban doctors here.
17:52Distinguished comrades, the crimes of genocide, the crimes against humanity and the crimes
17:59of apartheid committed by Israel, and which have been taking shape for 75 years against
18:05the Palestinian people, have acquired extreme proportions and must stop.
18:11We reiterate our strong demands for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the illegally
18:17occupied Palestinian territories.
18:22Cuba also condemns the attacks perpetrated by Israel against friendly nations such as
18:28Lebanon, Syria and Iran.
18:32The impunity with which the Israeli government continues to act is only possible because
18:37of the complicit political, military, logistical and financial support provided to the occupying
18:44power by the United States government, which acts cynically and perversely, acting towards
18:52the world as a mediator in the conflict while stopping the actions of the Security Council.
19:00Cuba demands a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
19:05based on the creation of two states, allowing the Palestinian people to exercise their right
19:11to self-determination and to have an independent and sovereign state within the pre-1967 borders
19:20with East Jerusalem as its capital and the return of its refugees.
19:28Distinguished friends, I would like to convey my appreciation to the Executive Secretariat,
19:33which has promoted in the course of this year that is coming to an end, more than 70 communiques
19:39and numerous actions to move forward in the ambitious but necessary Strategic 2030 Agenda.
19:47This has been a challenging year for ALBA and for Cuba, but at all times we have felt
19:55accompanied by the solidarity of all of you.
19:59In a few days, the Cuban revolution will celebrate 66 years, and we will do it with determination
20:08to face and to overcome the greatest challenges, as we learned in the school of Fidel, Raul
20:18and the heroic generation of the centennial of José Martí that precedes us.
20:28In these 66 years, the Cuban people have demonstrated that the Mambí spirit has not rested.
20:37As Antonio Maceo said, those who want to take hold of Cuba will take the dust of the soldiers in blood.
20:48Cuba will not bend a knee, and ALBA-TCP will not bend a knee.
20:56Let us make of our collective efforts a stronger and more united ALBA.
21:08May ALBA-TCP continue to advance in a constant search for the realization of projects for the economic development
21:14and dignity of our America.
21:16We owe it to Bolívar and Martí, to the founding fathers of the independence of Latin America and the Caribbean.
21:23We owe it to Antonio José de Sucre, who led the troops to victory at the Battle of Ayacucho 200 years ago.
21:32And we especially owe it to Fidel, to Chávez, and to our peoples.
21:43For these 20 years of solidarity and friendship, long live ALBA-TCP.
21:51Other onwards to victory.
22:31The words of Cuba that are rising.