After being handed over from Chilean President Sebastian Pinera the responsibility to be at the helm of the bloc founded in December, 2011, Raul Castro said it was a great honor and expressed his country’s purpose to turn the pro-independence heroes’ ideas into reality.
“We assume the commitment to work for peace, justice, development, cooperation, understanding and solidarity among Latin American and Caribbean peoples,” he said at the Espacio Riesco convention center, in this capital, where the First Summit of CELAC concluded.
He said that during its term, Cuba will act with absolute attachment to international law, the UN Charter and the fundamental principles governing relations among countries.
“We will reject interference, threat and the use of force, and we will promote dialogue and solidarity,” he stated.
Raul Castro added that his country will start from understanding diversity existing in the region to promote unity and struggle for the common goal to achieve the Latin American and Caribbean people’s wellbeing and dignity.
He recalled that CELAC is the first mechanism grouping the 33 independent nations of the area and said that Cuba considers the pro tempore presidency of the Community as in recognition of its pro-independence struggles.
Minutes before handing over the CELAC presidency, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera highlighted the importance of unity and of promoting understanding and democracy.
“Welcome, Raul Castro, I congratulate you and hand over the presidency to you, wishing you a good job,” he said. (Prensa Latina)