02-06-06,8:22am
Chavez announced that he will donate the prize money from the Jose Marti Award to Bolivia’s literary campaign or any other social project in that country.
YURIS NORIDO, JOEL GARCIA AND MARIA DE LAS NIEVES GALA Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gave an address to the more than 200,000 gathered Friday night after receiving the International Jose Marti Award at a ceremony held in Havana.
During his address, Chavez described the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) as a flexible model for the integration of Latin America that places social concerns in the forefront. He noted that this emphasis is what clearly differentiates the ALBA from the neoliberal model called the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), a US proposal that was left buried in Mar del Plata, Argentina, after last year’s Peoples Summit.
President Chavez pointed out that progress has been made in implementing the ALBA and added that the only response to US aggressions is to step up efforts and increase the pace of unification and liberation. He noted that Latin America and the Caribbean have moved from the defensive to the offensive, and alluded to Jose Marti when he spoke about these being burning times.
He noted that as the people of Latin America and the Caribbean become aware that this Bolivarian model of integration is the path to social redemption and that the region needs complementary rather than competitive economies, the integration process will continue to expand.
President Chavez pointed out that Venezuela has truly rid itself of all remnants of foreign domination inside the country, and is now free to takes its own path, to integrate with the peoples of Latin America.
Referring to the Jose Marti award bestowed on him by UNESCO for his efforts in Latin American integration, Chavez said that he receives it with humility, happiness and in the name of all Venezuelans.
INTEGRATION IS KEY
Hugo Chavez said that integration is essential to making the people of Latin America truly free. “This integration, without ignoring the economy, must place an emphasis on the social, cultural and political aspects, something that can only be achieved by leftwing governments.”
In this respect, Chavez highlighted the ALBA promoted by Cuba and Venezuela which has led to the signing of important cooperation accords in several sectors.
Speaking of the strong ties between the people, governments and revolutionary processes of both countries, Chavez said that the Bolivarian Revolution would have never been possible without the Cuban Revolution.
“The US government has been successful in severing almost all the movements of change in the continent during the past century. The greatness of Cuba lies in having resisted imperialist aggressions for so many years; this is why it has been an example to all the people of the Americas.”
Nevertheless, Chavez stated that this century will mark the end of the US empire, something he considers to be a necessary condition for the people of the South to attain freedom.
The Venezuelan president reflected that changes underway in the region may be a sign of things to come. “It falls on us, on our conscience, dedication, intelligence and astuteness, on our political and social leaders, and above all on the young people to make sure that this process of change does not come to an end. Socialism is the only way to achieve this.”
CHAVEZ TO DONATE PRIZE MONEY TO BOLIVIA
Chavez announced that he will donate the prize money from the Jose Marti Award to Bolivia’s literary campaign or any other social project in that country.
Hugo Chavez said that there were no words to describe the gratitude he felt at receiving the award, saying that he did not consider himself worthy, as individuals acting by themselves, without the necessary historic conditions and conscience of the people, are nothing.
In his address —overflowing with sayings, anecdotes and memories of Simon Bolivar—, Chavez thanked the jury and the countries that had founded the award, which he accepted on behalf of the Venezuelan people. He noted that without their initiative, conscience and heroism he wouldn’t be in Havana and much less president of Venezuela. “I will do everything possible to live up to this award, I assure you.”
During his address, the leader of the Bolivarian Revolution pointed out that it is an obligation and a duty to promote and support the ideas of Jose Marti and that integration is the only process that will provide the ideas to help save the world.
Chavez called on the people to read more and to amplify their knowledge of Latin American history, saying that it is the only path to restore the basic guiding ideas of the people. As an example, he noted that he had become aware of the Cuban Revolution as a young boy —Chavez was born in 1954— by reading books such as History Will Absolve Me and more recently, Un grano de maiz (A grain of corn) by Fidel Castro.
MARTI Y BOLIVAR, THE MASTERMINDS BEHIND THE CUBAN AND VENEZUELAN REVOLUTIONS
Hugo Chavez said that, much like Fidel —when he replied that Jose Marti was the intellectual author of the 1953 attack on the Moncada Barracks, which initiated the beginning of the Cuban Revolution— he, too, had answered that Simon Bolivar was the mastermind behind the February 4th, 1992 rebellion in Venezuela.
“Marti and Bolivar are also the masterminds behind this function tonight,” said Chavez.
During his acceptance of the UNESCO Jose Marti International Award, the Venezuelan president noted that “ideas and books are the main weapons in any revolution.” He quoted Fidel Castro when, shortly after the victory of the Cuban Revolution, he had said, “we are not telling people ‘believe’, we are telling people ‘read’.”
A WELL-DESERVED PRIZE FOR PRESIDENT CHAVEZ
Cuban President Fidel Castro said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez unquestionably deserved the Jose Marti International Prize that UNESCO had honored him with.
Chavez received the award accompanying the prize from the hands of Fidel Castro himself, during a solemn function at Havana’s historical Plaza de la Revolucion.
UNESCO grants the Jose Marti International Prize to people who have contributed to the unity and integration of Latin America and Caribbean countries, and who have worked in the preservation of their identities, cultural traditions and historical values.
Fidel highlighted Chavez’s contribution and the achievements of his Bolivarian Revolution (named after 19th century independence leader Simon Bolivar) in Venezuela. He emphasized that a prestigious jury had chosen Chavez to be the recipient of the prize in acknowledgement of his struggle for Latin American integration and his abiding to the teachings and ideas of Jose Marti.
The Cuban leader explained that six countries of the region—Panama, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba—had proposed Chavez for the decoration.
The award presentation was conducted before an audience of tens of thousands that included the Venezuelan official delegation, members of the jury that had granted Chavez the prize, medical students from several Latin American countries currently studying in Cuba, and more than 200,000 Havana residents.
Addressing the crowd, Fidel Castro quoted from Chavez’s inaugural speech as president of Venezuela seven years ago, in which Chavez outlined the difficult political, social and economic situation that the new government had inherited, including a high rate of unemployment and widespread illiteracy.
150,000 NEW DOCTORS BEING TRAINED FOR LATIN AMERICA
Fidel contrasted the Venezuelan situation then with that of today. He specifically referred to the surprising indicators obtained in the fields of education and healthcare reached in a very short span of time and amid a relentless imperialist aggression.
He pointed to the achievements of the numerous social programs undertaken by the Venezuelan government, which have benefited hundreds of thousands of people with low incomes who now have free healthcare and educational services available to them.
Fidel reaffirmed the shared determination of both countries to continue the training of healthcare professionals through innovative study methods. “There will be doctors in the most remote of places,” he said. He explained that the governments of Cuba and Venezuela are now working to train 150,000 new doctors in ten years, for the benefit of all Latin American countries.
President Fidel Castro discarded as ridiculous and offensive recent statements by US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who likened Chavez to Hitler. He also lashed out at statements by John Negroponte, the head of Central Intelligence in the United States, who said he was “concerned” regarding the close relations between Chavez, Fidel and the new Bolivian president, Evo Morales.
Fidel contrasted Chavez’s work towards freedom and integration in Latin America with the aggressive policies of successive US administrations and the disrespect shown by US officials in the region.
He said Cuba and Venezuela could feel proud of the work they are carrying out in the continent and highlighted President Chavez’s role in bringing about the new moment that Latin America is living through.
President Castro announced that Venezuela and Cuba are ready to help Bolivian President Evo Morales in a national effort to teach people how to read and write, and noted that the literacy campaign in Bolivia will be simultaneously conducted in the Spanish, Aymara and Quechua languages.
He said Cuba and Venezuela have become closely united, and not by the desire to bomb other nations or use violence and force, but in the pursuit of utterly humanitarian purposes. He cautioned, however, that the obstacles, difficulties and risks are enormous and should not be underestimated.
Argentinean journalist, writer and parliamentarian Miguel Bonasso also spoke during the presentation ceremony. He said he brought a message from the peoples of the southern part of the continent, who rejoice and celebrate with Chavez’s award.
The well-known Argentinean scholar referred to President Chavez’s vocation for integration and said that the fraternity forged between Cuba and Venezuela and their pursuit of a model of integration is unlike any promoted for so many years by capitalism
He said that the integration pattern followed by Cuba and Venezuela will one day allow South America to reach a union in which every country will provide what it has, complementing each other by sharing both material and human resources.
