Nicaragua Follows ALBA Path
Nicaragua began its adherence to the Bolivarian Alternative of the Americas (ALBA) Friday, spurred on by the increasing poverty and huge social differences resulting from 16 years of neoliberalism.

Joining ALBA -- the alternative boosted by Venezuela, Cuba and Bolivia to face the FTAA designed by the United States -- was the first step Sandinista Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega took less than 24 hours after re-taking the helm of the nation.

According to Ortega the neoliberal policies have created a social emergency in Nicaragua where millions of citizens have been denied access to education, health and dignified work.

Ortega considers ALBA, besides being based on solidarity, cooperation and complementary help, will permit a rescue of identity, participatory democracy and equal economic development in Central America.

In keeping with the need to solve the serious problems of poverty in Nicaragua, the first fruit of ALBA was offered by Venezuela, when President Hugo Chavez signed the first 15 cooperation agreements with Ortega, hours after Nicaragua made official its entry to ALBA.

The aid offered by the South American nation covers the main sectors of economy: hydrocarbons, electricity, agro-industry, education and health.

Chavez said that Nicaragua can forget about oil problems and also delivered 32 electricity generating plants to ease the energy crisis in the country and will invest in the construction of a refinery in Nicaragua.

Nicaragua will soon sign the first bilateral agreements with Cuba and Bolivia, the two other members of ALBA, which Ortega called a strategic alliance between the States and the Latin American peoples.