The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, asked the plenary session of Heads of State and Government gathered at the 6th Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Celac, to evaluate the proposal for the creation of an Executive Secretariat of the bloc and consolidate a new institution in favor of the integration, union and promotion of democracy among the peoples.
He also proposed for the main Councils of Ministers of the body to be reactivated in order to promote advance in the peace and development initiatives for the peoples of the region:
«Let’s resume the Council of Social Ministers, the Council of Economic Ministers and for the Chancellors to maintain the course”, suggested the Head of State in his speech at the 6th CELAC Summit that took place this Saturday at the National Palace of Mexico City, Mexico.
Maduro emphasized the need to rebuild these institutions, socially to address the agenda of the fight against climate change and the pandemic, economically to resume the issues of treaties on this matter, and politically so that the Chancellors may maintain the rhythm and the necessary regional agenda through the Political Council of Ministers.
Additionally, he extended his reflection to the forum and particularly to his counterpart from the Eastern Republic of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou, on the difference between the OAS and CELAC, such as the old contradiction between Monroism and Bolivarianism:
“The McCarthyism of the ‘America for the Americans’ that considers us a backyard, that remains intact beyond what can be said today; and Bolivarianism, Latin Americanism, Unionism and CELAC, which is our path, that is why I propose to evaluate with a cold mind, with balance, the constitution of a General Secretariat of the Latin American and Caribbean Community of States, to be endowed with sufficient power, so that the General Secretariat takes the reins of the construction of what is the dream that some of you have said”, he stressed.
Finally, the Venezuelan president pointed out that some heads of States dream of CELAC being an institution inspired by the European Union, facing the experiences of the African Union and the Asian ASEAN community, for which he emphasized the importance of creating a new institutional framework for the countries of the region.
