Latin America and the Caribbean sign 20 cooperation agreements
On May 14, in the capital of Caracaz, Venezuela, the Energy Ministers of Latin American and Caribbean countries signed 20 cooperation agreements to promote energy exchange and development.
This is one of the preparatory steps towards the establishment of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) at a summit in early July.
Ministers of countries attending CELAC. Source: Getty Images
Venezuelan Energy and Petroleum Minister Rafael Ramírez said that during the meeting of regional energy ministers, representatives of 30 Latin American and Caribbean countries discussed mechanisms and possibilities for countries to contribute fuel in promoting energy connectivity among countries in the region.
Previously, at a conference held in Mexico in February 2010, 32 heads of state from Latin American and Caribbean countries decided to establish CELAC, a new alliance in the region that does not include the US and Canada, with its own identity and inheriting the legacy of the Rio Group and the Latin American and Caribbean Summit.
This new organization upholds the principles of respecting democracy, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all member countries, not using or threatening to use force, protecting the environment, human rights and international law, and creating regional peace and security.
At the end of April, also at a meeting held in Venezuela, foreign ministers and diplomatic officials of Latin American and Caribbean countries approved a framework agreement on the organizational structure, decision-making mechanism, method of convening meetings, as well as regulations on the rotating presidency of this institution.
According to VNA
