ALBA Agrees to Consolidate Sovereignty and Advance Toward Socialism http://panafricannews.blogspot.com/2010/04/alba-agrees-to-consolidate-sovereignty.html

Reflecting upon the significance of ALBA, founded in 2004, he assured that "it is the alternative" for achieving real independence."Thus, we have to care for it [ALBA], protect it, and advance in our plans and projects. There is a danger in waiting; we cannot wait," the leader of the Bolivarian Revolution stated.

Along these lines, he emphasized the need for presidents and heads of government, as well as the peoples of ALBA, to care for and defend the regional integration organization from the constant threats that it is receiving from the empire and governments subordinate to the United States.Likewise, he signaled that it is important to continue firmly demanding an end to the blockade of Cuba and the release of the five Cuban heroes imprisoned by the empire.

For his part, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, in his speech at this momentous event, exhorted everybody present to win true sovereignty for Latin America. "Two hundred years ago, our liberators gave us political independence. The nations of this the continent now have to win ourselves economic, cultural, social, scientific, and technological independence," the president affirmed in his address.

Bolivian President Evo Morales argued that the best banner of struggle against irresponsible capitalism and irrational industrialism is to defend Mother Earth, which the indigenous peoples call Pachamama.Along these lines he emphasized the importance of the 1st Global Conference of the Peoples on Climate Change, which begins April 20 in Cochabamba, Bolivia. To date, 22,000 people have registered to attend the conference.

Speaking at the meeting, which concluded in the early hours of the morning, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega stated that, while the ALBA initiative for cooperation and integration is advancing, the empire is conspiring and provoking in an attempt to liquidate it.He emphasized that the new model seeks to give real power to the people and convert them into productive individuals in order to achieve development and leave poverty behind.