03/06/2010
Venezuela proposes to strengthen Haiti's independence within reconstruction plan

Dominican Republic, Jun 02. ABN (Manuel Palma, special correspondent).- The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela proposed this Wednesday at the World Summit on Haiti's Future to strengthen the independence of this Caribbean country, which was devastated in January by a 7.3 quake.

The statements were made by the Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro during his participation at the Summit, to which other 50 countries are attending.

“We, on behalf of the Government of President Chavez, propose the necessity that the entire support process to be based on strengthening of Haiti's independence, strengthen its State, which includes the reconstruction of institutional and social organs,” he underscored.

More than 220,000 people died in Haiti at the beginning of this year, due to a 7.3 magnitude earthquake that also left thousand of homeless and orphans.

Four meetings have been held before this Summit in Dominican Republic: Santo Domingo, Montreal, New York and Madrid. This Summit will be focused on four strategic themes, based on the re-foundation of Haiti: Social Re-Foundation, Territorial Re-Foundation, Economic Re-Foundation and Cultural-Artistic Re-Foundation.

The projects contemplate works in infrastructure, roads, drinkable water system, electricity, as well as the construction of houses, schools and universities.

Maduro explained that before the Summit in Punta Cana took place, the countries member of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (Alba) drafted an integral plan to support Haiti “on health, education, food production and economic reconstruction.”

The Venezuelan Foreign Minister said that the whole solidarity of the Alba will be transferred and adjusted to the plans agreed in this Summit.

Maduro, jointly with the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs for Latin America and the Caribbean Francisco Arias Cardenas, will participate this Wednesday in the work groups to debate over the concretion of the projects in said four main themes.

“Our commitment with Haiti is for good. We hope solidarity to be everlasting. We were [in Haiti] before the tragedy caused by the earthquake, we were together for the humanitarian aid and we are going to be after. For such reason, we have come to ratify the solidarity spirit towards Haiti, through the actions executed from the Alba,” he explained.