Cuba Venezuela Bolivia team up for ALBA

[Steve72]

Latin america integration will be boosted on saturday when Bolivia joins the ALBA ( Bolivarian alternative for latn america) a solidarity project that has already born fruit for its founders Venezuela and Cuba.

The new agreement which reinforces the accord signed between Havana and Caracas one year ago today and makes the inclusion of La paz official will be signed on saturday by residents Fidel castro, Hugo chavez and Evo morales at the end of the summit.

According to official soces in Havana the pact comprises the ideas proclaimed by president Morales about the Peoples trade agreements TCP in Spanish an initiative to counter te US sponsored free trade agreements.

The TCP is an integration model based on co-operation, solidarity and common will to move to higher levels of development.

Bolivia by joinng the pact will gain access to Venezuelan energy resources and financing, Cuban doctors, teahers and other professionals and markets for products such as soy.

Morales also explained the deal would include trade of coca as the plant has markets in Venezuela and Cuba.

"ALBA has worked very well for Cuba and Venezuela and Bolivia's joining can only improve it by adding another dimension" Cuban economist Omar everleny said.

Nicaraguan Sandanista revolutionary Daniel ortega who held power in the 1980's and is a leading candidate in a presidential election this November was also in Havana apparently as an observer.

[The Living Red]

Interesting.

So what have Cuba and Venezuela gained so far from this ALBA thing in the past year?

[TC]

regardless of the material benefits (i doubt they're more significant than other bi-lateral agreements), its a significant diplomatic, public sign of political alignment between venezuela and cuba and now bolivia.

[McLeft]

I saw the news on Telesur News, I was so happy when I first heard this, if you want to know more about ALBA visit this site:

http://www.alternativabolivariana.org/ (Spanish only)

I'll translate some of it when I get more free time.

I found something in English that might be helpful:

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/docs.php?dno=1010

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Latin_America/ALBA.html

I also read that Ortega would join ALBA if he wins the presidency of Nicaragua later this year, I hope he does.

[DORRI]

sometimes I ask myself if I am dreaming...it's like a real alba for latin america.

[bolshevik butcher]

Well traigc clown the Venezuelans ahve been giving the Cubans and now all Latin American countries cheap oil and the Cubans initially gave healthcare to the Venezuelans, and now in any Lain American people that need eye surgery can go to Cuba and recieve it for free. I think it's an organisation like this that does this. Aside from that it will be great for fighting against the capitalist class' alternative the Free Trade of the Americas Assosiation.

[Kurt Crover]

This is excellent news. The US won't be chuffed about it, but screw them.

[barista.marxista]

As long as the US keeps benefitting from the increasing oil exploitation in Venezuela, then they won't be caring much. WHile Chavez spouts his anti-capitalism shit, he's been enforcing neoliberalism onto Venezuelan markets in order to finance his Bolivarian Revolution. Without the US buying more and more oil from VZ, they'd be where they were in 1997.

[McLeft]

May I remind you that Venezuelan exports to the US have been reduced by 40% since Chavez came to power. From the very beginning it has been his vision to reduce Venezuela's economic dependence on the US, China is a key player in this and the good thing is that Chinese investment not only in Venezuela but in all of Latin America is without strings attached. I watched an analysis show on the BBC which reported that the US is worried because of China's involvement in the region and that they're going to have to apply the draconian Monrroe Doctrine...not that it's going to work though, not with what is happening in the region recently. ;)