Cuba's Castro assumes CELAC presidency

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Cuba's Castro assumes CELAC presidency
Associated Press
Posted on January 28, 2013 at 1:32 PM
Updated today at 1:36 PM

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Cuban President Raul Castro assumed the presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States on Monday in a demonstration of regional unity against U.S. efforts to isolate the communist government through a 50-year-old economic embargo.

Castro was warmly welcomed by his colleagues as he spoke Monday at the closing ceremony of the CELAC summit in Santiago, taking over the rotating presidency from Chile.

He described what he called "a common vision for the Latin American and Caribbean homeland," saying that CELAC "joins the 33 independent nations of our America to build a space for national sovereignty and encourage integration."

Castro said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had helped realize South American independence hero Simon Bolivar's dream of unifying the region by negotiating the creation of the CELAC bloc in December 2011.

Read more: http://www.khou.com/news/world/188687231.html

[scarletwoman]

1. Bravo, CELAC!

May they prosper and grow in strength, and may all of Latin America be free of U.S. interference.

[Archae]

2. Just great, now they have a communist dictator as president of that group.

[Judi Lynn]

3. That's the decision the people involved made, without your input. n/t

[Archae]

4. We elected George W Bush too.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Not really. He stole the election. What does that have to do with anything? n/t

[Archae]

7. It means fascists can easily be voted in.

And Raul Castro is a left-wing fascist.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Why can't right-wingers grasp the simple truth fascists are exclusively right-wing, no exceptions.

Why don't you take the time to get these facts straight?

You don't call a leftist a right-winger. That doesn't work. You only embarass yourself.

[Archae]

9. Left-wingers can be fascists.

Just look at Joseph Stalin.

Mao.

Pol Pot.

[Judi Lynn]

10. You're deeply confused. Spend some time learning what you've missed. It matters. n/t

[Archae]

11. Fine, so what then do you call a vicious left-wing dictator?

[Judi Lynn]

6. Latin America Flexes Muscles at Joint EU Summit

Latin America Flexes Muscles at Joint EU Summit
By Marianela Jarroud

SANTIAGO, Jan 29 2013 (IPS) - The nations of Latin America and the Caribbean strengthened their position with respect to Europe at the CELAC-EU summit held this weekend in the Chilean capital, reaching agreements that protect their natural resources from foreign investors and securing a joint condemnation of the United States’ trade embargo against Cuba.

The 33 heads of state and high representatives of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) managed significant amendments in the Declaration of Santiago signed on Sunday Jan. 27 with the 27 member states of the European Union, changing in their favour the key articles that establish the legal framework for foreign investment in the region.

“Legal certainty is the leading issue of contention with the EU, not because the countries of the region are unwilling to provide it, but because each country has its own view and is adopting its own process,” Bolivian Communications Minister Amanda Dávila told IPS.

“The countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) expressed their opinion on sovereignty and voiced their legitimate right to adopt their own policies and to disagree with positions and commitments regarding positions originating in other blocs,” she added.

More:
http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/01/latin-america-flexes-muscles-at-joint-eu-summit/