ALBA nations express 'solidarity' with Venezuela

Countries from the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America, ALBA, have reiterated their support for the Venezuelan government at the sixth Extraordinary Meeting of the Political Council in Caracas.

The countries expressed their solidarity in a public declaration in which they congratulated Venezuela on the Constituent Assembly and rejected mounting international attacks against the country.

“We reiterate that the unilateral economic sanctions imposed against the Venezuelan people are a flagrant violation of international law and human rights, as well as an unacceptable interventionist implementation, whose only purpose is to directly hinder the Bolivarian people and government of Venezuela in order to change the regime,” the declaration stated.

ALBA’s Secretary-General David Choquehuanca said the declaration represents the wishes of the people of Latin America who want “peace and solidarity.”

“Our people seek harmony, integration and here we have a declaration of total unconditional support to Venezuela’s democracy to its democratically-elected president and to the people who have been valiantly defending their rights and sovereignty,” he said.

During his participation in the event, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro stated that “a regional dialogue is needed and I propose to ALBA and the powerful leaders of the countries present that we initiate, with your initiative, a dialogue with the governments of Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Chile and Paraguay, and as a single point, to restore the rules of respect for international law and the established and effective principles of the founding charter of our community of states of Latin American and the Caribbean.

Maduro said he is ready to receive a commission sent by CARICOM to facilitate dialogue with the opposition, as recently agreed by the Caribbean integration body at a summit in Grenada.

On the other hand, he reiterated his rejection of intervention by the Organization of American States (OAS) – an instance that believes has put pressure on the member countries to execute 'illegal sanctions' against Venezuela.

“The OAS has failed and will continue to fail in its attempt to intervene in Venezuela and to end the Bolivarian Revolution. They have not been able to do so, neither with Venezuela nor with Latin America and the Caribbean,” he said