Cuba President Raul Castro, left, shakes hands with Mexican President

Enrique Pena Nieto, at the second summit of the Community of Latin

American and Caribbean States. The group, which excludes the United

States and Canada, elected Castro, leader of the last dictatorship in

the Americas, president for the year.

Latin America Condemns U.S. Blockade of Cuba; Elects Raul Castro CELAC President (La Razon, Bolivia)

"The island's nomination to lead the 33-nation group - which excludes the United States and Canada - was described by some governments as a Cuban victory without precedent since 1961, when Fidel Castro assumed power after the revolution that ended the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. ... The Santiago Declaration calls on Washington ... to end the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba."

By Ivan Paredes

Translated By Florizul Acosta Perez

February 2, 2013

Bolivia - La Razon - Original Article (Spanish)

A protester holds a sign with Venezuela President Chavez during a march for the 'People's Summit,' organized by social groups during the second summit of the Community of Latin American, Caribbean States in Santiago, Jan 25. The sign says, 'Keep up together, Keep up the revolution.' PRESS TV. IRAN [STATE-RUN]: CELAC Summit feels absence of Venezuela President Hugo Chavez, Feb. 1, 00:02:38

Cuba assumed the rotating presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States [CELAC] yesterday. The forum, held in Santiago Chile, released a statement condemning the economic blockade imposed by the United States against the Caribbean island.

"We firmly reject all unilateral coercive measures with extraterritorial effect that are contrary to international law and commonly accepted standards of free trade," states part of the Santiago Declaration.

The special statement by CELAC, read out by Chilean President Sebastian Piñera, mentions, "the necessity of ending the commercial and financial blockade by the United States on Cuba." Yesterday, CELAC held its first summit meeting since its inception one year ago, in Caracas. Now Chile passes the presidency to Cuba.

The island's nomination to lead the 33-nation group - which excludes the United States and Canada - was described by some governments as a Cuban victory without precedent since 1961, when Fidel Castro assumed power after the revolution that ended the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista

"This is an act of justice. After over 50 years of resistance to a criminal imperial blockade, let Latin America and the Caribbean tell the United States with one voice that all efforts to isolate Cuba have failed and will continue to fail," wrote Venezuela President Hugo Chavez from Cuba, in a letter that Nicolas Maduro read out to the summit audience [watch below].

The Santiago Declaration calls on Washington, in compliance with successive resolutions adopted by the U.N. General Assembly and in response to repeated calls from Latin American and Caribbean nations, to end the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba.

Posted by Worldmeets.US

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