Dr. Timothy Harris Joins other Leaders of ALBA in support for Venezuela over increasing tensions with the US at Emergency Summit
St.Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Timothy S. Harris was among leaders OF ALBA countries from the Caribbean and Latin America at an emergency summit in Venezuela .
The member nations of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our Americas (ALBA) regional integration bloc held the extraordinary summit on Tuesday in Caracas in support of Venezuela amidst US sanctions.
The regional grouping of Leaders urged the US to repeal an executive order which declared Venezuela a threat to the national security of the North American country.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro stressed his country was no threat. Both countries have been trading barbs over the last few months.
Tension s between the country rose after the US published an executive order on 9 March announcing sanctions on seven Venezuelan officials suspected by the US of committing human rights abuses.
In the order, US President Barack Obama stated that the situation in Venezuela, including “the government’s erosion of human rights constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States”.
The wording of the order caused outrage not only with Venezuelan government officials, but also among its regional allies.
“Venezuela has no plans, did not have, nor will it ever have plans to attack the United States or hurt anyone,” Mr Maduro said at the Alba summit in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.
He received strong backing from the Cuban leader, Raul Castro.
Dr.Timothy Harris said that “we have come to show solidarity to the people of Venezuela, have come to reaffirm the principles of solidarity and sovereignty and of course come because we believe in the power of unity”.
Maduro thanked all governments, social movements, political parties and countries from around the world for their support of Venezuela, following the declaration by US President Barack Obama that the South America nation is a threat to US national security.
Dr. Harris was accompanied on the trip by the Hon. Ian “Patches” Liburd Minister of Public Infrastructure, Posts, Urban Development & Transport
Leave a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.