The ceremony held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, has as its main character Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil. Meanwhile, in the streets there is a great deployment of security due to the protests of social organizations.
The VII Summit of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) began this Tuesday in Buenos Aires, Argentina, chaired by the president Alberto Fernandez and in the midst of controversy over the presence of Miguel Diaz-Canelpresident of Cuba, and the cancellation of the trip of Nicolas Maduroruler of Venezuela, following protests by unions of professionals, public employees and teachers for the low minimum wage —7 dollars a month— and the harsh economic crisis, according to UN figures.
CELAC Summit in Argentina: latest news
“I do not assign relevance to it,” Fernández said regarding the audio of the Chilean foreign minister
Argentine President Alberto Fernández on Tuesday minimized the scandal unleashed by the leak of an audio from the Chilean Foreign Minister, Antonia Urrejola, in which he questioned the Argentine ambassador in Santiago, Rafael Bielsa, with harsh qualifications.
President of Paraguay urged CELAC countries to attend to Venezuelan migration
The President of Paraguay, Mario Abdo Benitez, urged the leaders attending the VII Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) to address the exodus situation that thousands of Venezuelans must face.
“We cannot look aside, when more than seven million Venezuelans have left their homes asking for refuge” in the region, said the Paraguayan head of state.
Gustavo Petro: “We talk a lot regarding uniting, but we do little to do it
The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, urged his counterparts in the South American region to move from “the rhetoric of Latin American integration to reality”, and took the opportunity to propose a regional clean energy network, during his speech at the VII Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) held in Buenos Aires.
“We talk a lot regarding uniting, but we do little to really do it. And I believe that this story has to change. We have to move from rhetoric to reality,” he said.
Cuba “economic suffocation” imposed by the US
The Cuban President, Miguel Diaz-Canelcharged this Tuesday, during his speech at the VII Celac summit, once morest the “economic suffocation” imposed by the Government of the United States, a country that in his opinion intends to “destroy” the development model of the island.
“The government of the United States insists on destroying the development model that we Cubans have sovereignly decided to build, through a cruel, illegitimate, illegal, and immoral policy of economic suffocation,” the Cuban leader asserted at the conclave, held at the Sheraton hotel. from Buenos Aires.
With information from EFE.
Uruguay proposes to create a free trade zone in Latin America and the Caribbean
The President of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Poustated this Tuesday that the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) promote the creation of a regional free trade zone, and criticized the countries of the group that “do not respect democracy or human rights.”
“Isn’t it time to open up these relations and for CELAC to promote a free trade zone (…) from Mexico to southern South America? Can’t we move forward in that direction?” he asked.
Nicolás Maduro calls to join forces once morest “foreign interventionism”
The President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, He called this Tuesday, from Caracas, the heads of state participating in the VII Celac Summit, in Buenos Aires, to “join forces” once morest “foreign interventionism”, especially that of the United States, according to what he said.
“We have to join forces and efforts to reject all kinds of interventionism by forces outside our region” and tell the United States, “with one voice”, to stop the “coup” and the “sanctions once morest free and sovereign countries of the continent”, said the president in a telematic intervention.
With information from EFE.
President Boric calls for “change of course” in Peru
The Chilean President, Gabriel Boricassured that Peru needs a “change of course” in the face of the “unacceptable” violence of the last month.
“We cannot be indifferent when today in our sister nation of Peru, people who go out to march and demand what they consider fair end up being shot by whoever should defend them,” Boric said before the bloc’s plenary.
“The balance that the path of repression and violence has left is unacceptable,” he said.
Nicolás Maduro supports the single currency project for the region
The President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduroinformed that Venezuela opens its arms to the controversial common currency project in Latin America. “I announce that Venezuela is ready and we support the initiative to create a Latin American and Caribbean currency,” said the Venezuelan president at the Miraflores Palace.
AMLO calls for freedom for Pedro Castillo
The president of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obradorin the absence of CELAC, recorded a video in which he called on the leaders participating in the ceremony to issue a joint statement to demand the release of the former coup president, Pedro Castillothe cessation of repression and fair elections.
Mexico rules out joining the regional currency that Brazil and Argentina propose
The president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, ruled out that Mexico joins the regional currency proposed by Brazil and Argentina to stop depending on the dollar, despite his past insistence on the economic integration of America.
“We would not agree on that, for many reasons we have to continue maintaining the dollar as a reference,” said López Obrador.
Alberto Fernández accuses the “fascist” right of threatening Latin American democracy
Argentine President Alberto Fernández opened the 7th CELAC summit with a harsh speech in which he accused a “recalcitrant and fascist right” of threatening democracy in the region.
“We must not allow this recalcitrant and fascist right to put the institutionality of the people at risk,” he said, referring in particular to the riot of supporters of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro once morest the buildings of the public powers in Brasilia to try to instigate a coup once morest the recently inaugurated Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
With information from AFP.
Representative of the Venezuelan regime, Yvan Gil, is already in Buenos Aires
“Fulfilling the instructions of President Nicolás Maduro, we are in the celebration of the VII Summit of CELAC-Argentina to make our voice a living word and consolidate the integrationist efforts of the Latin American and Caribbean union as its founders dreamed of!” Yvan wrote in his Gil, representative of Venezuela following the cancellation of Nicolás Maduro.
The meeting of this consultation forum made up of 33 countries, chaired by Argentinahas as its main protagonist the head of state of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silvawho returns to the international arena following winning the November 2022 elections, with a speech in which he permanently recalls the diplomatic achievements of his first two presidencies (2003-2010).
The controversial Celac Summit
The presidents of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel; brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva; Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou; from Honduras, Xiomara Castro; from Bolivia, Luis Arce; and from Colombia, Gustavo Petroare among the leaders who arrived punctually at the place where the conclave is held.
The Argentine Foreign Minister, santiago cafierohad previously welcomed the foreign ministers who arrived at the Sheraton hotel, venue for the summit, which woke up surrounded by tight security measures due to protests by social organizations.
The surroundings of the place are surrounded by fences that prevent passers-by from approaching the place where some fifteen presidents of Latin America and the Caribbean will debate this Tuesday regarding the situation in the region.
The hotel is protected by special security measures, since several protest rallies are planned throughout the day: on the one hand, once morest the participation of Venezuela —whose president, Nicolás Maduro, ultimately did not travel to Buenos Aires— and on the other, once morest the Government of the Peruvian president, Dina Boluarte, also absent at this meeting.
Nicolás Maduro will not go to the Celac summit: what is the reason?
The President of Venezuela, Nicolas Madurowill not attend the summit of the celac that takes place in Argentina, as reported in a statement by the Venezuelan government on Monday, the reason would be for an alleged “aggression plan”.
Lacalle Pou calls for a free trade zone for the entire region
The President of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pouadvocated this Tuesday for a free trade zone that encompasses the entire region, “from Mexico to the south of South America”, during his speech at the VII Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac).
“We represent the national feeling and we fight so that our peoples are prosperous. Isn’t it time to sincere these relations and that, from Celac, a free trade zone is promoted between our countries, from Mexico to the south of South America? Can’t we move forward in that sense,” asked the Uruguayan president.
With information from AFP and EFE.
