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Venezuelan
President Hails ALBA's Expansion
Caracas - Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez stressed on Sunday the importance of the
expansion of the Bolivarian Alternative for the
Americas (ALBA), with the formal accession of
Ecuador, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and
Antigua and Barbuda to the regional bloc.
"The ALBA continues to grow in Latin America. Now we
have nine nations to build a new project. It is the
most dynamic core." Chavez said during his TV-radio
program "Alo, Presidente."
The three new members will formally join the ALBA on
Wednesday.
The ALBA is a regional block created in 2004 by Cuba
and Venezuela to counter the U.S.-led Free Trade
Area of the Americas (ALCA) supported by Canada,
Mexico, Colombia and Peru.
Nicaragua, Bolivia, Dominica and Honduras are also
members of the ALBA.
Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa ratified on May
25 to join the block, after the country previously
attending ALBA meetings as an observer.
The accession of the other two new members was
approved during the last ALBA meeting held on April
16 and 17 before the Summit of the Americas in
Trinidad and Tobago. |
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