Venezuela: Strengthening “Strategic Alliances” and a Multi-polar World

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez said that the tour he is carrying out in various countries in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and Europe is aimed at strengthening Venezuela's "strategic alliances" that have been built throughout ten years of his government.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the African Union Summit in Libya (VTV)

Caracas, September 1st 2009 (Venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez said that the tour he is carrying out in various countries in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and Europe is aimed at strengthening Venezuela's "strategic alliances" that have been built throughout ten years of his government.

Speaking from Tripoli, Libya, where he arrived on August 31 to participate in a special summit of the African Union and to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the revolution in the African country, Chavez also said that Venezuela had played a "modest but important" role in contributing to the construction of a multi-polar world.

In 1999, "We had a clear understanding of the international map and began to seek solid, firm and serious allies," he said, referring to the early stages of his government.  Ten years later Venezuela has built strong alliances, not only with nations but with strategic regions, from northern Africa to the Eurasian region, the head of state pointed out in a telephone conversation broadcast on state owned VTV.

"Today Venezuela is accompanied by true friends. They range from large countries like China, Russia, and Iran, to smaller countries in size but big in solidarity, like Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Bolivia, among others," he said.

Chavez also referred to the extraordinary summit of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) in Argentina held on August 28 to discuss Colombia's decision to grant the U.S. the use of seven military bases in its territory.

He had not expected Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to undo the decision at the summit, because the measure does not depend on him, but rather U.S. imperialism. "He couldn't, even if he wanted to, because it is simply a decision of imperialism," he said.

However, Chavez added, Uribe was exposed as pawn of U.S. imperialism in a television broadcast around the world.  The entire discussion of the UNASUR conference was broadcast live.

"For the first time an issue that has to do with the U.S. was discussed in an open manner to the world. In South America in the last 100 years, there have been invasions, coup d'etats, assassinations, and no-one dared say a peep, because the hand of imperialism was behind them."

"It was a victory of Venezuelan diplomacy. And here we are [in Africa] strengthening strategic alliances…without a doubt a multi-polar world can be seen clearly on the horizon."

"It is no coincidence that we come from Bariloche, in Patagonia, Argentina, and that we are here today, and within a month there will be a united summit between the two continents," he continued as he announced the second Africa-South America (ASA) summit which will take place on September 26-27 on Margarita Island, Venezuela.

"These are strong indications of world geopolitics, where Venezuela is playing a modest, but important role," he added.

Cooperation between the African Union and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) is essential for the liberation, integration and development of both continents, Chavez stressed.

"I strongly believe that Latin America will have no future without Africa, the same way Africa will not have a future without Latin America … both of us share the same dream of a better world, a world of free and equal people," he added.

The U.S. has decided to open a "theatre of operations" in Africa in order to control the resources of that continent Chavez warned, however, he said, the countries of the African continent are clear on the importance of their natural resources coveted by the U.S. Empire, and the need for unity.

"Africa cannot ever allow again that countries from overseas come to impose certain kinds of political, economic and social systems. Africa has to be for the Africans and only through unity Africa will be free and great," he stated.

"The African Union has covered more ground than the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) but both are part of the new world geopolitical map, a world that must be multi-polar or there will not be world for anyone," Chavez emphasized.

Important proposals for South-South cooperation that will be discussed in the ASA summit include, television station Telesur, food sovereignty, the Bank of the South and the University of the South, Chavez said.

He explained that University of the South could be, "a system of universities and training centres to boost the education of doctors, nurses and professionals in different areas."

Chavez is expected to visit Algeria, Syria, Iran, Russia, Belarus and China among other countries, as part of his tour.