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• 04 / 17 / 2009

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Venezuelan President opened Seventh Summit of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of Our Americas (ALBA) critizising the Summit of the Americas that will begin today in Trinidad and Tobago

Referring to the final declaration of the Summit of the Americas, the Venezuelan President said that the declaration will be initialed by countries where rulers are elected freely and democratically.
He beleives that this should be the last summit under the present format."

He said that "the summit of our peoples" is "this one," meaning the ALBA summit. "This is the summit of the unity of our peoples, which is supposed to be our major commitment" .

ALBA is an initiative of the Venezuelan ruler to counter the US-sponsored Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). ALBA comprises Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Dominica and Honduras. Paraguay, Ecuador and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are taking part in the ALBA summit as observers.

The meeting is focusing on three major topics, including a debate to define the common stance they are to advocate at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago.

(El Universal)