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CELAC coordinators discuss positions
to be adopted during Havana Summit
National coordinators from member countries of the
Community of Latin American and Caribbean States are
meeting in Havana January 26, prior to the 2nd CELAC
Summit, where common positions on important regional
and international issues will be established.
The
national coordinators, most of whom are deputy
foreign ministers, intend to reach consensus on the
Havana Declaration and some 30 other special
communiqués addressing support for Argentina's
sovereignty over the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands,
the blockade of Cuba, the defense of natural
resources and the rights of indigenous peoples,
among other issues.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez stated, on
Friday, that these documents have been under
consideration for several weeks, and noted that the
Havana Declaration has received broad support.
The
meeting of national coordinators is taking place
behind closed doors and could involve several
sessions of deliberations, to ensure that the
greatest possible consensus is achieved on proposals
presented by various governments.
These discussions will set the stage for the meeting
to be held Monday, January 27 of foreign ministers
from all CELAC countries, that is all those located
in the Americas, with the exception of the United
States and Canada.
Cuba’s foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parilla,
stated that CELAC has relations with other blocs and
countries, but is working to become the unified
voice of Latin America and the Caribbean on an
international level.
The Havana event will be an important step forward
in the consolidation of the region’s unity and
sovereignty, Rodríguez said.
Over the past year, Cuba has held CELAC’s pro
tempore presidency, focusing on the organization’s
efforts to reduce inequality and the greater
integration of Caribbean countries.
One of Cuba’s proposals to the Summit is that a
commitment be adopted to make Latin America and the
Caribbean a region of peace and free of nuclear
weapons. (PL)
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