The dictator Miguel Diaz Canel praised Alberto Fernández after his participation in CELAC

The Cuban dictator Miguel Diaz-Canel praised this Wednesday the Argentine president Alberto Fernandez after participating in the 7th Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) in Buenos Aires.

“The leadership of the pro tempore presidency of Argentina was recognized and also the leadership of Alberto Fernández at the head of that pro tempore presidency in these years,” Díaz-Canel said during an interview with Argentine radio.

Alberto Fernandez received the Cuban dictator at the Argentine Foreign Ministry as part of a series of bilateral meetings after CELAC.

The dictator assured that he was pleased after meeting with the president, but also for having met the Argentine vice president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchneras well as with the president of Honduras, Xiomara Castrothe Colombian Gustavo Petro and other leftist leaders. He made a special mention for the return of the Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the presidency of Brazil.

“Hug Lula with that great return of Brazil to the celacI believe that new moments of hope are opening up for Latin America and the Caribbean from the triumph of a whole group of progressive movements, leftist revolutionaries like that of Petro in Colombia and Lula in Brazil”, said the dictator.

Diaz-Canel also referred to the sanctions that weigh on his regime for the repeated violations of human rights, the persecution of freedom of expression and the authoritarianism with which he controls the island.

“I have no confidence or certainty that the administration of USA is willing to take steps to eliminate the ignominious, criminal and brutal blockade against Cuba (…) but with the support and solidarity that we have from many people in Argentina and Latin America and the Caribbean (…) we have the capacity to go over that blockade,” he said.

The CELAC Summit, which was surrounded by controversy over the invitation to the dictatorships of Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaraguadenounced in various instances by non-democrats and by human rights violations, achieved consensus to affirm the commitment of the members to “advance with determination in the process of integrationpromoting unity and political, economic, social and cultural diversity”.

The forum concluded in a document of one hundred points and eleven special declarations that the purpose of Latin America and the Caribbean is “fully aware of its projection” and is “capable of deepening consensus on issues of common interest.”

About VenezuelaCELAC welcomed “the agreements” reached on November 26, 2022 within the framework of the dialogue and negotiation process between the Venezuelan regime and the opposition Unitary Platform of Venezuelapromoted by the Governments of Mexico and Norway.

In this sense, he welcomed “the support of the international community for the implementation of said agreements.”

The presence of Díaz-Canel, and the absence at the last moment of the Venezuelan dictator, Nicolas Madurowhich was added to that of the Nicaraguan, Daniel Ortega, marked the climate of the forum between the political opposition in Argentina and the leaders of the region themselves. The Venezuelan dictator, on whom an arrest warrant weighs for being part of the Cartel of the Sunstried to justify his absence from CELAC: “It was because of the macrismo rats, Patricia Bullrich and the judicial party,” he said, blaming the Argentine opposition, which had requested his arrest if he traveled to Buenos Aires.

Lula, for his part, has made it clear that Brazil is back in dialogue with its neighbors in the region and was received with warmth and applause in Buenos Aires, first on an official visit to Argentina and then on his return to CELAC.

In the final declaration of that forum made up of the 33 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, which consisted of 100 agreed points and 11 special declarations, a condemnation of human rights violations was not included that occur in nations such as Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua.

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