HE Dr Samuel R Moncada A
Embassy of the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela
Points covered in the talk:
The Venezuelan project of social and political change has entered a new challenging stage in terms of the political process itself and its aims. Regarding the realm of foreign policy, many aspects have been subject of consolidation in the past 10 years, basically principles that must be reinforced and strengthened with new policies. Ten years ago, Venezuela lacked a foreign policy of its own. It was a failed state, a de facto colony whose foreign policy was dictated by foreign powers and multilateral financial institutions.
In the course of the last decade, Venezuela not only developed its own foreign policy, but also aroused interest in other countries in the region and in other parts of the world to emulate the guiding principles of that policy. As a result, Venezuela has gained both faithful supporters and intolerant detractors. It has drawn the positive interest of those seeking for an alternative to wild neoliberal schemes, and the negative interest of those who use such neoliberal model to exercise their power in the international economic system.
The principles guiding the set of interactions of Venezuela with the rest of the world are as follows:
* Sovereignty
Today, Venezuelan foreign policy is completely independent, that is, the National Government issues its decision as a true representative of the people. Its policies are evaluated and supported by public opinion. The decision-making process accepts no “metropolitan” influence whatsoever. The influence the world centres of power used to have in the past has been superseded by consultation and interaction amongst equally respected partners.
Venezuela has diversified and strengthened its relations with governments and countries from all over the world, achieving significant strategic alliances with "non-traditional" partners. The neocolonial nature of its past relations, limited to those established or allowed by the United States of America, were changed into a commercial integration with the rest of Latin America and some diplomatic and cultural links with Europe. The leadership shown in the advancement of Latin American integration, the strengthening of relations with China, Russia, India, and the OPEC member states amongst others, is all proof of the sovereignty of Venezuelan foreign policy.
* Multipolarity
The "balance of the universe", referred to by Bolivar as a source of peace in the world, is today more prevalent than ever in Venezuela. In the pursuit for a multi-polar world, for a balance of power which may deter the unilateral pretensions of one single superpower, Venezuela has promoted the formation of regional blocks starting, of course, with the consolidation of Latin American unity through institutions of the kind of MERCOSUR, but also the setting up of ALBA and PETROCARIBE and other common initiatives with the single strategic aim of facilitating the creation of a Latin American pole of influence.
Beyond the region, Venezuela has opted for the strengthening and re-grouping of the South in all international forums, and it has formed alliances with important countries, particularly those representing powers which may resist and neutralize unilateral and imperial advances. Only a healthy balance of power can free the world from the domination of the traditional power centres. Only the influence of a power pole in the South will allow our countries reach full development, and overcome poverty and dependence.
* Solidarity and complementariness:
Besides developing business relations and cooperation, the Venezuelan government has been implementing policies to promote unity among nations. This process is easier to achieve when dealing with governments which are true representatives of their people.
Venezuela has taken into account imbalances in the economy, the poverty and extreme poverty index, the productivity of each country, the needs and the social potential of each country. Bearing such realities in mind, Venezuela has committed itself to policies of solidarity without expecting anything in return or in reciprocity. In the same manner, the agreements, exchanges and treaties Venezuela has entered into take into consideration the asymmetries arising out of the different social and productivity realities of each country, aiming to complementariness, rather than competitiveness among countries.
Within this context, the international Social Missions (social programmes), the energy cooperation agreements, the offering of places in universities and scholarships, the organisation of multi-state companies and even the cases of large scale barter markets, such as the exchange of oil for goods or services offered by other nations, all are part of this policy.
Unquestionably, a radical project of change cannot be conceived and implemented in isolation. Therefore, cooperation and collaboration with those nations undergoing deep social, humanistic and economic transformation will always be prioritized. Even a moderate capitalist way of integration such as the one taking place in Europe includes a cohesion fund to help the less developed countries within the Union with financial capital and facilities. In the case of this new kind of union policy, international solidarity, support and complementariness are essential elements in a new approach to relations with other international parties in pursuit of a definitive transformation of the excluding structures of the present global system.
* Anti-colonialism:
The aforementioned principles lead to the decisive determination to oppose all forms of domination which may become an obstacle for the independent future of our nations. After confirming the intervention of President Bush's administration in the coup to oust the democratic system of Venezuela in 2002 and 2003, the Venezuelan government decided, on one hand, to condemn such actions, and on the other hand, to create a real alternative to imperial abuse.
President Hugo Chavez has come to incarnate the antithesis of imperialism. The pursuit of a multi-polar international order, the recovery of national sovereignties, the consolidation of Latin American integration and the defeat of neoliberal proposals such as that of the FTAA (Free-Trade Agreement of the Americas), constitute key elements transcending mere rhetoric.
* Respect of international law:
Venezuela is determined to enforce public international law by abiding principles such as the right to self-determination of nations, freedom from non-interference in domestic affairs, the democratization of international organizations and peaceful solution of conflicts, amongst others. Its constant and out-sounding call for not just a reform but deeper changes in the heart of the United Nations will continue to be a part of Venezuela's policy until it becomes a reality.
Venezuela demands that all parties comply with international law, which has been ignored so many times by the major economic, political and military centres of power. Only by respecting and accepting clear rules, domination and intrusions can be avoided.
* Respect and protection of human kind and environment:
The change in the economic system advocated by the Bolivarian Government aims at the adoption of sustainable development schemes and plans to combat poverty. A new productive economy in harmony with nature should guarantee natural resources and life itself to future generations, based on the assumption that wild capitalism is destroying the environment, thus jeopardizing the survival of human kind in the medium term.
Venezuela demands that the human being becomes the centre of all international cooperation, which should focus on trying to find mechanisms to generate decent living standards for the majority of the world population, thus overcoming the preeminence of financial profit. Venezuela identifies poverty and disease as the main enemies of humanity and the worst form of terrorism.
The principles and guidelines of Venezuelan foreign policy for international change have resulted in methodologies and concrete plans for action – ALBA (The Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of Our Americas) is the most significant one. This initiative reclaims the national principles, as part of the conflict between the Bolivarian ideals and the still prevailing Monroe doctrine. This is, by any reckoning, an alternative based on sovereignty, solidarity, Latin American and Caribbean unity, anti-colonialism and the pursuit of a just and equal society.
Venezuela and Cuba set up ALBA in December 2004. Bolivia joined in April 2006 and Nicaragua in January 2007. These are countries whose governments have moved towards solidarity-based progress and social inclusion. However, ALBA is not available to national governments only, but also to regional governments and social movements supporting and seeking a more inclusive and human society.
Business and profits took precedence in the Latin American integration attempts during the 20th Century, as dictated from the North. That is the reason why integration never became real, since many countries and large sectors of our societies were left aside. A corollary of that type of integration would be the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas), the American proposal which would have meant the annexation of the whole continent to the United States, thereby ending with our national identities and expanding the problems of inequality, exclusion and exploitation.
ALBA is created to demonstrate that there is a real alternative prioritizing cultural and social issues, acknowledging the importance of political and economic aspects but always seeking the well-being of the social majorities. With ALBA we have witnessed not only an increase in business exchange but also in social policies, culture, knowledge, technology transfer, joint production projects, data exchange, exchange of social experience amongst grassroots students, peasants and workers movements. ALBA stands as a tangible example of this internationalist, humanist foreign policy that our countries need to develop in order to promote the definitive changes required by a new international order, if we really want to make another world possible.
London, 8th December 2008