(Stenographic versions – Presidency of the Republic)
Dear Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, Leader of the Cuban Revolution;
Dear Comrade Esteban Lazo Hernández, President of the National Assembly of People’s Power;
Dear Brothers Nicolás Maduro Moros, commanders Daniel Ortega Saavedra and Luis Arce Catacora, leaders of the Heroic Resistance of Our America;
Dear Prime Ministers Ralph Gonsalves and Dickon Mitchell, I am delighted that you are here just days after giving us unforgettable visits to your countries;
Dear Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, Our heartiest congratulations on your victory in the December 6 general election (Applause);
Caribbean Brothers;
Head of delegation at the XXII. ALBA TCP Summit:
A hug to everyone.
I think I reflect the feelings of the deputies of our National Assembly of People’s Power, who are honored by your presence (Applause).
We appreciate your words of recognition of the legacy of commanders Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez and also the words dedicated to our revolution and our people (Applause).
There is no doubt that Supreme Commander Fidel Castro Ruz and Commander Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías visited the future when they agreed to create ALBA.
Fidel and Chávez united us in ALBA. They have united us in a true alliance of solidarity.
Eighteen years after its creation, the Alliance can prove not only its necessity but also its value as an integration mechanism, uniting wills of solidarity, complementarity and cooperation.
His projects for the benefit of the people, the historic missions Milagro and Yo sí puedo, works of profound human importance without precedent in the region, restored sight and made millions of people literate in Our America.
On several occasions and because I am convinced of it, I have always recognized that of all the blocs in the world, ALBA was the regional integration bloc that most quickly showed concrete results for the benefit of its peoples.
This Jubilee comes as Latin America and the Caribbean face a new crossroads for their destinies that cannot be met without cooperation and unity.
The region hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic remains the most unequal; suffers the effects of the unjust international economic order and even the devastation of the serious situation that has arisen on another continent.
The transnationals have not stopped plundering the region’s resources and increasing their profit margins as energy and food prices soar. Inflation has increased and in several countries has reached the highest levels in recent years. Access to finance has become more difficult and expensive. Fiscal tightening has increased and the oppressive pressure of external debt continues.
In this context, there is an advance of political forces that intend to implement policies aimed at the social development and integration of our countries.
This progress is the result of social and public struggles to satisfy citizens’ demands for profound and urgent changes to previous policies that have led large masses into insecurity.
Alarmed by this advance, imperialism and its allies have accelerated the harassment of left-wing candidates, conducting and promoting politically-motivated court cases against them, such as that against Argentine Vice-President Cristina Fernández, to whom we send a big hug and all our support (applause).
Imperialism and oligarchies constantly resort to disinformation and manipulation of Latin American and Caribbean reality through traditional media and the digital networks they control.
Without hiding, these oligarchies band together to support politicians and candidates with fascist-oriented programs and declare their will to prevent the left’s electoral success at any cost. To do this, they also resort to the gross intimidation of sympathizers and voters of left and progressive parties.
As avenues of social justice and inclusion resume in the region, the United States is reactivating the Monroe Doctrine and celebrating the 200th anniversary of its proclamation. Its postulates, which at various periods have served to justify invasions, coups and economic pressures on countries, now seek to limit sovereignty and, as always, impose dominance over our destiny.
These realities make it more necessary to promote integration and cooperation, an endeavor in which the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) plays a key role by proving to be a successful forum for concertation. Preserving and strengthening this legacy is therefore our duty and must also be our concern.
Dear brothers:
This year, Cuba received the support of 185 countries in the world in its fight against the criminal blockade that the United States government has been imposing on the Cuban people for more than 60 years. Likewise, calls are growing for Cuba to be removed from the arbitrary US list of state sponsors of terrorism. It is these positions that we value very much.
We reaffirm our strongest support for President Nicolás Maduro Moros and the civil-military union he is leading. We applaud the progress made by the Bolivarian and Chavista governments in returning to Venezuela the financial and economic resources it had seized. The tenacity, dignity and courage of the Venezuelan people in the face of constant attacks on them will go down in history as another example of this (Applause).
We strongly oppose the attacks and unilateral coercion against Sister Nicaragua and transfer our support to Commander-President Daniel Ortega Saavedra (Applause).
We reaffirm our solidarity and fraternal support for the Plurinational State of Bolivia and Brother President Luis Arce who has faced destabilizing attempts by the fascist opposition Bolivia is not alone Brother Lucho! (Applause.)
We reiterate our support, Caribbean brothers, in your right to fair, special and differential treatment, which is essential to meet the growing challenges posed by natural disasters, the prevailing unfair international financial system and the new and difficult conditions that result. of the COVID-19 pandemic. We do not forget, because we also suffer from it, that the Caribbean suffers like no other region from the consequences of climate change.
Dear brothers:
We welcome the progress of ALBA-TCP, in the development of which we must commit ourselves to the maximum in 2023 in order to achieve the goals that we have set ourselves in the economic and commercial sphere and in promoting cooperation in areas of strategic importance.
Our countries have a lot to do in building their own economic and social path that benefits everyone.
Let us continue to unite the political will to go beyond the declarative sphere and carry out projects with realism and determination, as the unforgettable leaders of our countries did even before they gave them a name.
2023 will be a year of struggle and hope. It’s up to us that it’s also a year of gains and losses. With the tenacity, perseverance, and natural creativity of our unique and resilient races, we will be able to achieve it.
For these 18 years of concertation and solidarity integration; for Fidel and for Chávez; For the founding fathers of Latin America and the Caribbean, let’s work for a more united ALBA! An ALBA of solidarity! An ALBA of dignity!
Keep going to victory! (Calls: “Always!” and “Long live the Revolution!”, “Long live Raúl!”, “Long live Fidel”, “Long live Chávez!” and “Long live ALBA-TCP!”)
(Ovation.)