ALBA backs Venezuelan government against "imperialist" campaigns

HAVANA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The XVI Political Council of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) met here Thursday and expressed its support for Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro amid an "imperialist campaign" to derail his government.

Maduro, along with Cuban President Raul Castro, chaired the closing ceremony of the ALBA political council, commemorating the 13th anniversary of the founding of the bloc.

ALBA, an inter-governmental organization in Latin America, seeks to consolidate regional social, political and economic integration based on progressive principles and shared development.

In his speech, Maduro highlighted the "integration role" of the ALBA bloc in the Americas and the Caribbean as well as its positive influence, despite continued U.S. threats against the region's union.

He called ALBA a "powerful moral, spiritual, political, social and economic alliance," and said it "has achieved many great things for our nations" with many more achievements to come in the future.

Maduro also warned about the rise of "new neoliberal forces" in the region, which have resurfaced after the arrival of extremist factors in the United States.

He noted that his government's party has won three elections in the last 140 days, seizing control of most municipalities and governorships in spite of a deep economic crisis that has led to severe shortages of food and medicines.

"Despite the brutal attacks of imperialist extremist factors that have seized power in the United States and the Venezuelan opposition, the Bolivarian Revolution has taught them a lesson with our people, participation, elections, votes, more democracy," he said.

He denounced the United States' attitude of "obsessive and active persecution" towards his country.

The ALBA group also rejected the economic sanctions imposed by the United States, Canada and the European Union against Venezuela.

The Political Council criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and expressed its solidarity with the cause of Palestine.

ALBA was founded in 2004 and is comprised of Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Grenada, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as Venezuela. Enditem