[NYTr] Cuba and Venezuela Favor Expanded Regional Integration
 
Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 20:21:09 -0500 (CDT)

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Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN)
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Cuba and Venezuela Favor Expanded Regional Integration

Havana, Oct 15 (acn) Cuba's First Vice-President Raul Castro reiterated 
the will of Cuba and Venezuela to keep enhancing Latin American 
integration, while Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called for the 
setting up of a confederation of republics between both countries.

Both leaders spoke on Monday during a new bilateral accord-signing 
ceremony held at Havana's Conventions Palace.

Raul Castro said that the signing of new accords is a significant 
contribution to the growing integration process between Cuba and 
Venezuela, as a result of a comprehensive bilateral cooperation project 
signed in October 2001 by the presidents of both countries, whose terms 
express the will of Venezuela and Cuba to advance towards the 
integration of Latin America and the Caribbean.

He said that the 2001 accord was followed by an agreement to set the 
basis for the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), a project 
based on the principle that trade and investment are not final goals in 
themselves, but tools to reach sustainable development.

Under such principles, said Raul Castro, bilateral economic relations 
have expanded and "we have set up 19 economic associations, which are 
now joined by 14 new ones, while both countries continue to consolidate 
new projects."

At the same time, cooperation relations continue to develop with the 
implementation of 352 projects in 28 social and economic sectors aimed 
at the development of both countries, said Raul Castro, who noted that 
such an achievement is a crucial element for the integration that Jose 
Marti and Simon Bolivar fought for.

The First Cuban Vice President stressed that the accords between Cuba 
and Venezuela expand to other Latin American and Caribbean nations as 
he referred to the free eye-surgery program known as "Operation 
Miracle," which has returned the sight to 872, 000 Latin American and 
Caribbean people.

The Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas has been strengthened with 
the joining of Bolivia and Nicaragua, while other sister nations should 
join in as well, said Raul Castro.

Hugo Chavez, on his part, reiterated his idea that Cuba and Venezuela 
could become a confederation of republics based on a single political 
and ideological line.

He said both countries will continue to strengthen bilateral 
cooperation and friendship links as new projects come up to favor 
bilateral development.

Some 33 social and technological projects are in the works, said 
Chavez, after he praised the highly cultured, politically prepared and 
skilled Cuban people.

The Venezuelan President again called for the release of the five Cuban 
antiterrorist fighters held in US prisons as he condemned the silence 
kept by Washington about notorious terrorists Luis Posada Carriles and 
Orlando Bosch.
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