The 8th ALBA Summit is underway in Havana on the level of heads of State and government. The gathering of the presidents, heads of state and high-level representatives of the nine member states of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas began at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, local time, with the opening address by Cuban President Raúl Castro.
At the Palacio de Convenciones, representating the legitimate government of Honduras, is Honduran Foreign Minister Patricia Rodas. Among the heads of state present at the Summit are Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Bolivian President Evo Morales and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.
The summit began officially on Friday at the level of experts. They discussed and analyzed agreements and proposals from previous ALBA summits to determine the issues to be discussed by the heads of State and government which is run Sunday and today.
On Saturday, the foreign ministers met from the host country Cuba, as well as Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Honduras, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Nicaragua, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
This Summit coincides with the 5th anniversary of the creation of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas, which started as an alternative organization that later expanded to an alliance, in addition to a People's Trade Agreement (ALBA-TCP).
ALBA was established on December 14th, 2004 -- 5 years ago -- in Havana, when Venezuelan President Hugo Chvez, and the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, signed the founding declaration.
The 8th ALBA Summit's motto is “For the independence, unity, and development of our peoples.”
At the Palacio de Convenciones, representating the legitimate government of Honduras, is Honduran Foreign Minister Patricia Rodas. Among the heads of state present at the Summit are Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Bolivian President Evo Morales and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.
The summit began officially on Friday at the level of experts. They discussed and analyzed agreements and proposals from previous ALBA summits to determine the issues to be discussed by the heads of State and government which is run Sunday and today.
On Saturday, the foreign ministers met from the host country Cuba, as well as Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Honduras, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Nicaragua, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
This Summit coincides with the 5th anniversary of the creation of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas, which started as an alternative organization that later expanded to an alliance, in addition to a People's Trade Agreement (ALBA-TCP).
ALBA was established on December 14th, 2004 -- 5 years ago -- in Havana, when Venezuelan President Hugo Chvez, and the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, signed the founding declaration.
The 8th ALBA Summit's motto is “For the independence, unity, and development of our peoples.”
