The Heads of State and Government of the member countries of the Bolivarian Alliance of the Peoples of Our Americas – Peoples’ Trade Treaty, (ALBA TCP), denounced the attempts of imperialism to confuse the peoples and sow divisions with political campaigns communicational measures and the application of unilateral coercive measures.
The final declaration of the 20th ALBA TCP Summit, which was held in Havana, also contemplates the production of medicines and food, thanks to the support of the Bank of Alba.
The President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz Canel, highlighted that the members of the ALBA TCP held a fruitful debate on various topics of common interest, among them, the need to strengthen and value ALBA: “it is the alternative against the agreements of the new economic colonialism”.
Below is the full text of the final declaration approved this Tuesday, December 14, 2021:
Declaration of the XX ALBA-TCP Summit in commemoration of its 17th anniversary
“17 years in defense of peace and Latin American and Caribbean integration”
1.- “The Heads of State and Government and the Heads of Delegations of the countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), meeting in Havana, Cuba, on December 14, 2021, to commemorate the 17th Anniversary of the Alliance. By signing this Declaration, we renew our commitment to strengthening this mechanism of political agreement, based on the principles of solidarity, social justice, cooperation and economic complementarity, as a result of the political will of its founders, Commanders Fidel Castro Ruz and Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías.
2.- We ratify that the cardinal principle that should guide ALBA-TCP is the broadest solidarity among the peoples of our Americas, which is based on the thought of Bolívar, Martí, San Martín, Sucre, O’Higgins, Petión, Morazán, Sandino, Bishop, Garvey, Túpac Katari, Bartolina Sisa, Chatoyer and other heroes of Latin American and Caribbean independence, in accordance with the Joint Declaration of Commanders Chávez and Fidel of December 14, 2004.
3.- We ratify our commitment to genuinely Latin American and Caribbean integration, which allows us to face together the claims of imperialist domination and hegemony and the growing threats to regional peace and stability.
4.- We advocate for a transparent, democratic, fair and equitable international order, based on multilateralism, the observance of the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and International Law; that guarantees international peace and security and respect for the right of peoples to self-determination, territorial integrity, the peaceful settlement of disputes, non-interference in internal affairs, and the sovereignty of States.
5.- We recognize the commendable work of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as a Non-Permanent Member of the Security Council, during the last two years, raising the voice of the peoples of the Caribbean and representing the fight for just causes within this important organ of the United Nations.
6.- We reaffirm the full validity of the postulates of the “Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace”, signed by the Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), at their 2nd Summit held in Havana, in January 2014.
7.- We highlight the need to continue strengthening CELAC as a genuine mechanism for political agreement, cooperation and regional dialogue based on the principle of unity in diversity; to face the common challenges that are presented to us. We ratify the results of the 6th Community Summit, held in Mexico City on September 18, 2021, while we commend the work of the Mexican Pro Tempore Presidency to revitalize CELAC and reiterate our commitment to support its management.
8.- We reaffirm the right of every State to build its own political, economic, social and cultural system, free from unilateral coercive measures, threats, aggressions, in an environment of peace, stability, justice, democracy and respect for human rights.
9.- We highlight the urgency of moving towards the establishment of a more comprehensive mechanism that allows debt relief for developing countries, the cancellation or refinancing of external debt at the global level, economic recovery with a comprehensive and sustainable approach, and the democratic transformation of international financial organizations.
10.- We reiterate our strong rejection of the imposition and application of unilateral coercive measures against Alliance countries, including lists and certifications, in accordance with the Political Declaration of the 6th Summit of Heads of State and Government of CELAC, held in the City of Mexico, on September 18, 2021. Such practices, contrary to International Law, threaten the recovery, the economic resilience of the region and the stability of our peoples in the current context of the pandemic. At the same time, they constitute a massive, flagrant, systematic and illegal violation of the human rights of our nations.
11.- We ratify our energetic condemnation of the genocidal and illegal economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the government of the United States of America against Cuba, deliberately and opportunistically exacerbated in pandemic conditions, and we highlight the historic support of the Alliance member states to the Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly Necessity to end the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba, adopted on June 23, 2021.
12.- We repudiate the imposition of unilateral coercive measures against the people and Government of Venezuela; that violate International Law and the provisions of the United Nations Charter and represent a collective punishment to the Venezuelan people, causing untold suffering indiscriminately that impede the full enjoyment of human rights by all its population, especially to life and health.
13.- We express our strong rejection of the absurd and unjustified inclusion of the Republic of Cuba in the spurious and arbitrary list of States sponsors of terrorism of the United States Department of State, which discredits the cooperation efforts of the UN and the international community in the fight against terrorism. This unilateral action, widely rejected inside and outside the United States, has a negative impact on every sphere of Cuban society and increases the country’s difficulties in entering international trade, conducting financial operations, and acquiring basic supplies.
14.- We reject the interventionist action in the internal affairs of the States of the Secretary General of the Organization of American States.
15.- We denounce the use of unconventional warfare strategies against the governments and progressive leaders of the region through politically motivated judicial processes (lawfare), manipulation for destabilizing human rights, propaganda and disinformation campaigns, the malicious use of information and communication technologies, cyber attacks, and others.
16.- We reiterate our commitment to the promotion and protection of all Human Rights for all, while denouncing the politicization and manipulation of the same for interventionist purposes.
17.- We reiterate the strong condemnation of ALBA-TCP to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
18.- We express our condolences for the fatalities that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused in the world and in particular in our region. We commend the extraordinary efforts of health personnel to address this health crisis. We recognize the commitment of the Alliance countries to mitigate its spread and confront its devastating socio-economic impact.
19.- We highlight the exchange of good practices between the ALBA-TCP countries in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of continuing with the measures for its prevention and containment.
20.- We highlight the achievements made by Cuba in the development of three vaccines that have proven to be highly effective and two vaccine candidates that will contribute to increasing the region’s response capacity in the face of the pandemic. We recognize the humanistic and altruistic work carried out by the Henry Reeve medical contingent and his contribution to the confrontation of COVID-19 in various nations.
21.- We congratulate the work of the Alliance in the establishment of a humanitarian airlift through the CONVIASA airline, which has facilitated the transfer of vaccines, medical personnel, among others, to help in the fight against the pandemic.
22.- We salute the work of Banco del Alba (Bank of Alba), in the development of a bank of vaccines, treatments and medical supplies, which has been implemented for the benefit of the ALBA population. We welcome the entry of Granada in June 2021, to this financial entity whose objective is to consolidate the full sovereignty and financial and economic independence of countries of the Alliance.
23.- We reaffirm our full support for the Caribbean countries in their claim for compensation for the genocide of the native population and the horrors of slavery and the transatlantic trade.
24.- We ratify the right of the Caribbean countries to receive fair, special and differential treatment. The Caribbean will always find in the ALBA-TCP a platform for cooperation and complementarity for the defense and promotion of its just claims and reparations.
25.- We strongly reject the measures adopted against the sister Caribbean countries, considering them non-cooperative jurisdictions. We urge you to review the graduation criteria that qualify them as “middle-income countries,” which hinders their access to credit and international cooperation.
26.- We support the government of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, headed by President Luis Alberto Arce Catacora, democratically elected by popular vote with 55.1% and we call on the international community to be alert to destabilization attempts.
27.- We congratulate the progress made in the process of Dialogue and comprehensive negotiation of Venezuela for a political and social coexistence. We support the work of the countries that participate in the international accompaniment of said dialogue.
28.- We congratulate the people of Venezuela for the overwhelming victory of the Great Patriotic Pole in the regional and municipal elections of November 21. Likewise, we salute and support the Bolivarian Revolution, the civic-military union and the Constitutional President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, in the fight for peace and stability of the Venezuelan people.
29.- We congratulate and recognize the Nicaraguan people and the Sandinista government of President Daniel Ortega Saavedra, for their victory in the recent elections; We ratify our support for his decision to continue defending sovereignty, peace and the notable social, economic, security and national unity advances achieved, without foreign interference or international economic sanctions.
30.- We congratulate the Honduran people for the historic and successful election day that took place on Sunday, November 28, 2021, where they massively expressed their fervent desire for peace and social transformation, with the election of comrade Xiomara Castro, the first woman elected as President of the Republic of Honduras.
31.-We reiterate our congratulations to the people of Saint Lucia for the successful election day of July 26, 2021, in which the Saint Lucia Labor Party (SLP), led by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, was victorious in a peaceful and democratic way.
32.- We welcome the reincorporation of Santa Lucía to the ALBA-TCP, which shows the full validity of the political ideals that the peoples of the Alliance proclaim day after day.
33.- We recognize the work of the Alliance during the events that took place in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines after the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano, as a symbol of support and solidarity of the ALBA-TCP countries with the people and the Government of Saint Vincent.
34.-We reiterate our rejection of the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, on July 7, 2021, in Port-au-Prince; We strongly condemn these acts and all kinds of threats or attempted assassinations, which have been recurrent in our region, threatening the peace and political and social stability of our peoples.
35.- We emphasize that the results of COP26 did not live up to the expectations of developing countries. More ambitious commitments are required from developed countries on adaptation, damage and loss, mitigation and provision of means of implementation, including climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building, commensurate with their historical responsibilities. We welcome the constitution of the “Glasgow Committee on Non-Market-Based Approaches” to strengthen actions to support compliance with the actions contemplated, among others, in the Nationally Determined Contributions of the countries.
36.- We emphasize that climate change is one of the main threats to humanity, with Latin America and the Caribbean being among the most vulnerable territories on the planet to its adverse effects. We call for concerted action for the full implementation of the commitments of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement on the basis of equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
37.- We highlight the role of children and young people for their valuable and innovative impact on climate action, encouraging the generation of adaptation and mitigation solutions, as well as ways to avoid and face losses and damages in the face of climate change integrated to the particular needs of their localities and regions.
38.- We reaffirm our commitment to the recognition and promotion of the unbreakable rights of Mother Earth and their interrelation with human beings in harmony with nature, welcoming the initiatives of the “First Reunion with Mother Earth; Global reflections for the defense of the Pachamama” held in La Paz, Bolivia, on April 22 and 23, 2021; and “The Second Reunion with Mother Earth” held in Caracas, Venezuela, on August 27 and 28, 2021.
39.- We express our commitment to the defense and promotion of Latin American and Caribbean culture and the identity of the peoples of the region, with particular respect and promotion of autochthonous and indigenous cultures.
40.- We reject the criminalization of irregular migration, of all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, hate speech and other related forms of discrimination and intolerance against migrants. We commend the coordinated work in order to manage information on migratory movements in the region, to protect the human rights of migrants who wish to return, especially in the current context.
41.- We express our commitment to protect the human rights of migrants, promote comprehensive regional efforts to strengthen effective migration governance, under the principles of responsible, safe, orderly and regular migration, working to eradicate the causes of irregular migration.
42.- We celebrate the promotion of ALBA-TCP cooperation relations with other integration mechanisms, extra-regional countries and international organizations, under the principles of respect and non-intervention in internal affairs.
43.- We highlight the work carried out to revitalize ALBA -TCP and its actions for peace, democracy, stability and the well-being of the peoples of Our America. In this regard, we highlight the valuable meetings held between the sectors of health, education, agriculture, academia, communication and information, women’s affairs and gender equality, culture and tourism, of each of the member countries. The results obtained in these meetings commit us to continue advancing in the strengthening of the Alliance as a political-strategic alternative for Latin American and Caribbean integration, counter-hegemonic and participatory; and in their shared values of solidarity, cooperation and complementarity.
44.- We approved the ALBA-TCP 2022 Post-Pandemic Work Plan and entrusted the Executive Secretariat of ALBA-TCP with its follow-up, consultation and compliance for the benefit of strengthening the Alliance.
Havana, December 14, 2021
