Sovereignty, independence, and self-determination of nations are part of the main issues that Honduras defends today at the head of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac, in Spanish).

Tegucigalpa.- In the framework of the 8th Summit of the regional mechanism held on Friday in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, President Xiomara Castro assumed the pro tempore presidency of the bloc, and presented several proposals to carry forward the project of the Patria Grande.

The Head of State urged to support the declarations of sovereignty presented by the Celac member states, as well as to continue the struggle for the end of the blockade and unilateral measures imposed by the United States against Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

Castro proposed to advance Argentina’s claim over the Malvinas Islands, in addition to promoting an open discussion of the situation of Puerto Rico.

“Our democracy has been hit by the world crisis of capitalism, war, inflation, global warming, and above all, by the model of corrupt neoliberal privatizations,” she stressed.

She affirmed that her projects are based on the dream of regional independence heroes such as Simón Bolívar, José Martí, and Francisco Morazán.

The Honduran Foreign Minister, Enrique Reina, told the press that the CELAC Summit declared peace as a supreme and legitimate benefit of the aspirations of the peoples, as a common principle, and of the values of the Latin American community.

In addition, the Latin American and Caribbean leaders expressed their concern over the grave humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the suffering of Palestinians due to the constant aggression of the Israeli forces, which have caused more than 30,000 deaths.

In this regard, they supported the demand of the UN General Assembly for an immediate ceasefire by the parties and to follow up on the definitions of the International Court of Justice on the violation of international law.

They reiterated the importance of the establishment of the states of Israel and Palestine, which must live side by side with security and recognition of their borders.

Within the framework of the Summit, Reina signed with the representative of the Organization of Ibero-American States, Luis Scasso, a memorandum of understanding to strengthen the capacity of Honduras in the pro tempore presidency of CELAC and to hold ministerial meetings on issues of education, culture, science, and medicines, among others.

He also signed another document with the executive secretary of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System, Clarems Endara, to support ministerial meetings to address issues related to energy infrastructure, competitiveness, and migration, among others.

The 8th CELAC Summit was attended by representatives of more than 30 member nations of the integration and political coordination mechanism. (PL)