ALBA: The Bolivarian Alliance x the Peoples of Our America
Caracas, Dec 14 (EFE).-
The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) on Saturday declared Palestine a “brother state” and its permanent guest during its summit in Venezuela, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of its foundation.
In a special statement, the 10 ALBA member countries condemned the “terrible crimes against humanity” in the Gaza Strip and occupied Palestinian territories by Israel and denounced its “ruthless and inhumane genocide.”
They also denounced the “complicit support” of governments that “allow Israel to act with impunity”, and demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, where at least 44,930 people have been killed and 106,624 wounded – as per the Palestinian health authorities – since the war began more than 14 months ago.
ALBA reaffirmed its support for “all necessary political, social and diplomatic actions” to ensure the Palestinian people are able to establish their independent State.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro lauded the “unanimous” approval of the declaration and expressed his desire that “someday” ALBA would hold a summit with the Palestinian people in a “free Jerusalem.”
Moreover, he called on Pope Francis to “raise his voice” for “the rights of the Palestinian people to their land, their history, their legacy, their independence and their peace.”
The ALBA was created in 2004 by the then presidents of Cuba and Venezuela, Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez, respectively.
Currently, it has ten members, namely Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Venezuela. EFE csm/sc
