5th ALBA Summit in Venezuela Strengthens Regional Integration

[Venezuelanalysis.com's Chris Carlson reports on the 5th ALBA Summit, held last weekend in Venezuela. The idea of ALBA, the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, was first proposed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez in 2001 as an alternative to the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) promoted by the United States government. The initial ALBA agreement was signed in December 2004 between Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro, and Bolivia and Nicaragua later joined the agreement. Haiti and Ecuador have also expressed interest in the agreement, but have not yet formally joined. --Ed]
Cuba's Vice President Carlos Lage, left, hugs Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez as Bolivia's President Evo Morales, right, and Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega, far left, look on at the inauguration of the Alba Games in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, Saturday, April 28, 2007. Venezuela is hosting the Alba Games alongside the fifth summit of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, or ALBA, a trade and cooperation group which aims to provide an alternative to U.S.-backed free trade efforts in Latin America. Credit: Leslie Mazoch/AP

                               

5th ALBA Summit in Venezuela Strengthens Regional Integration

By Chris Carlson - Venezuelanalysis.com

April 29, 2007

Mérida, April 29, 2007 (venezuelanalysis.com)— With an eye toward the integration and development of their countries, the leaders of Bolivia, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Haiti met this weekend in Venezuela for the 5th ALBA Summit. Among the many proposals, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez proposed the extension of the Venezuelan health and education programs to all the nations of ALBA, as well as supplying all of their energy needs.

Hugo Chávez of Venezuela gave the opening remarks at the 5th ALBA Summit on Saturday, in the Venezuelan city of Barquisimeto, in the presence of Evo Morales of Bolivia, Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, René Préval of Haiti, and Carlos Lage of Cuba. Also present were delegations representing Ecuador, Uruguay, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

"ALBA is not an agreement of the elite. ALBA is born from down below, from the grassroots of the population," said Chávez in his opening remarks. "Without the people no union would be possible and that is one of the criticisms that we have always made of other integration efforts."
The idea of ALBA, the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, was first proposed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez in 2001 as an alternative to the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) promoted by the United States government. The initial ALBA agreement was signed in December 2004 between Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro, and Bolivia and Nicaragua later joined the agreement. Haiti and Ecuador have also expressed interest in the agreement, but have not yet formally joined.

ALBA fundamentally rejects many of the principles of the free trade agreements promoted by Washington for the region. Instead, the objective of the ALBA agreement is to promote cooperation and collective development of the region with an emphasis on fighting poverty and social exclusion.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega pointed out the difference yesterday between the free trade agreements and ALBA. "The objective is not necessarily to maintain high economic statistics or attract investment, but rather to benefit our populations, so that they have health care, education, jobs, and so they can get out of poverty."

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