ARTICLE - HAITI-VENEZUELA SOLIDARITY

HAITI-VENEZUELA SOLIDARITY SUMMIT
(Haiti Libre) -

The Haiti-Venezuela Solidarity Summit [2 and 3 March 2012] is a "testimony of the indestructible and immovable friendship between the peoples of Haiti and Venezuela," declared Laurent Lamothe in his opening speech, who welcomed for the occasion Dr. Temir Porras, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, and the Prime Minister of Curacao a great friend of Haiti.

Speaking of Venezuela, the Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed "These are two brother countries who were the first to show solidarity in favor of the freedom, of development and of democracy in the Caribbean, and South America.

In 1804 Haiti paved the way for the liberation from slavery in its own territory, and two years later carried the torch to Venezuela, alongside Francisco de Miranda, and Simon Bolivar.

Haiti has constantly supported the Bolivarian Revolution, with the participation of 5,000 Haitian revolutionaries and a major financial support leading to the independence of Venezuela in 1812, and that of Colombia in 1819, Peru and Ecuador in 1822, followed by all Latin America.

Today, Venezuela still remembers and intends to further strengthen its ties with Haiti by multiple bilateral cooperation covering all areas; both economic, social, cultural, agro, industrial, commercial, educational, humanitarian and other."

At the end of the first working session between the official delegation of Venezuela and the Government of Haiti, Chancellor Lamothe, and the Vice Foreign Minister of Venezuela announced the imminent creation of a joint venture to carry out aid projects, funded by the south American nation. For Dr. Temir Porras, this decision shows the "political will of the current administration of President Martelly", to allow projects to be realized in reality.

Venezuela has announced the establishment of a computer system for recording all Haitians, and allow them to obtain identity documents. According to Porras, the registration process of 10 million Haitians will be realized over the next 18 months. Through its financial and technical support for this project, Venezuela will allow Haiti to "benefit from technological progress, and the Haitian government with a platform of a new generation." Laurent Lamothe considers that this new project meets one of the greatest needs in Haiti and warmly thanked the Government of Venezuela. "South-South Cooperation is crucial for the development of Haiti", stated Chancellor Lamothe.

During this working session, Laurent Lamothe announced that Venezuela had decided to give back $369 million of funds paid by Haiti as part of the Petrocaribe agreement.

Meanwhile, the tripartite Venezuela-Cuba-Haiti cooperation, will invest $60 million in the fields of infrastructure construction, education, and health. Dr. Temir Porras wanted to clarify that this cooperation with Haiti, is "absolutely without condition", recalling the gratitude of his country to the historical contribution of the founders of Haiti to the emancipation of Venezuela.