ALBA SUMMIT: NEW MEMBERS, NEW NAME

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000791

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2024
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM VE
SUBJECT: ALBA SUMMIT: NEW MEMBERS, NEW NAME

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ,
REASONS 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (C) Summary: Venezuela hosted an extraordinary ALBA
Summit on June 24, welcoming Ecuador, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda to the organization.
President Chavez proposed a new name for ALBA, changing the
Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas to the Bolivarian
Alliance for the Americas. Heads of state from Bolivia,
Nicaragua, Ecuador and Dominica joined President Chavez for
the summit, held on the Venezuelan national holiday of the
Battle of Carabobo. Military cadets from five ALBA countries
joined the Venezuelan military in a parade commemorating
Simon Bolivar's victory against the Spanish. Initially
described as an organization focused on economic cooperation,
ALBA is taking shape as a much deeper Venezuelan-led alliance
among Latin American countries. End Summary.

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NEW MEMBERS, MORE MEETINGS
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2. (SBU) Ecuador, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and
Antigua and Barbuda officially joined ALBA during the
conference, increasing total membership to nine countries.
Paraguayan Foreign Minister Hector Lacognata announced that
Paraguay would join ALBA at the next summit, planned for
September in Bolivia. In addition to the heads of state
present, from Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Dominica and the
new members, senior representatives from Honduras and Cuba
attended. ALBA members agreed to President Chavez's proposal
to change the ALBA name to the "Bolivarian Alliance for the
Americas" and announced the establishment of political,
economic and social advisory councils, which will meet on a
monthly basis, starting July 24. President Chavez also
proposed that the heads of states meet every three months,
and declared that the Organization for American States and
the United Nations "do not serve our people."

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BATTLE OF CARABOBO
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3. (SBU) For the first time, foreign military participated
in the annual parade commemorating Simon Bolivar's victory
against the Spanish Royalists in 1821. Military units from
five ALBA countries joined Venezuela in marching behind
national and ALBA banners: Cuba, Honduras, Bolivia,
Nicaragua, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Bolivar's
victory in the Battle of Carabobo led to Venezuela's
independence; President Chavez said on June 24 that
"Carabobo has not ended and it will continue to resound as
the people of America strive for their full liberty." He
added that independence in Latin America began with the
Battle of Carabobo, and said "the world should know that we
are ready to be free, and we will be free no matter what it
costs us." Chavez also announced during the summit that the
U.S. was trying to assassinate him, clarifying his statement
with "I don't accuse Obama. I think Obama has good
intentions but the Empire, the CIA, and its tentacles are
still there."

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COMMENT
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4. (C) President Chavez continues to portray himself as the
leader of Latin America, and will try to use ALBA as an
alternative to the Organization for American States and the
United Nations. Discrediting international organizations
that might criticize him is consistent with strengthening and
expanding Venezuelan-led organizations. ALBA, initially
presented as an economic "alternative" to the Free Trade Area
of the Americas, is now taking shape as an "alliance".
President Chavez also continues to sharply and publicly
criticize the U.S., while carefully acknowledging President
Obama's regional popularity.

CAULFIELD