I am honoured to be compared with Chavez, says Rafael Correa during visit to London
During his visit to London, Correa reiterates support for regional integration processes in terms of energy, commerce and finance through the Bank of the South and the Sucre.
Press Office of the Venezuelan Embassy in London, October 28, 2009
Before a packed auditorium in the London School of Economics (London, England), the Ecuadorian President, Rafael Correa, gave last night a presentation on international economics and citizens’ participation in Ecuador, explaining in detail the characteristics of the XXI. Century Socialism and the failure of the Washington Consensus in Latin America.
At the end of his talk, a person from the audience asked Correa if he was copying Chavez’s model, and Correa responded by saying that he feels flattered by such a comparison.
“We coincide with Venezuela in the project of the Bolivarian Socialism. It is an honour for us to coincide with a brother country like Venezuela”, affirmed Correa.
Correa strongly criticized the international media and their campaign of misinformation against the revolutionary process in Venezuela.
“Venezuela registered high petroleum revenues during 70 years, but where is all this money?” asked Correa rhetorically.
Correa explained that during the years of the “oil bonanza”, the majority of the population sunk into poverty and he added that this poverty has decreased enormously during the last ten years of the Bolivarian Revolution.
Correa stated that regional integration is fundamental in the construction of the XXI. Century Socialism and that the ALBA nations are watching over this process, implementing mechanisms such as energy integration, the Bank of the South or the Sucre.
At the end of the event, President Correa sent warm greetings to the Venezuelan people: “Hasta la Victoria siempre” expressed Correa before the television cameras.
Correa is having a meeting tomorrow with members of the British Parliament before heading to Moscow where he will conclude his European tour.