Venezuela and Cuba to become a federation (updated II)

During a live television programme –Alo Presidente - hosted from Santa Clara, Cuba, on Sunday 14 October 2007 by the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, a plan to turn both countries in a federation was suggested. Furthermore, Chavez stated that the government in Venezuela and Caracas was the same.  

Such suggestions will certainly anger anti Castro campaigners and Venezuelan opposition. However, some analysts perceive them as a clear indication of a possible solution to the post Fidel Castro Cuba. On July 31 2006 and before undergoing emergency surgery, 81-year-old Castro handed power over to his brother Raul.

Venezuela and Cuba have very productive bilateral relations. During a 4 day visit of President Chavez to Cuba, 14 cooperation agreements were penned. They are to promote joint ventures in areas such as petrochemical and promote the Bolivarian Alternatives for the Americas (ALBA) initiative.  Venezuela would be taking care of the reenactment of the Cienfuegos oil refinery. Fidel Castro phoned Chavez in during his Alo Presidente on Sunday. The telephone conversation was the first time Fidel Castro made a live appearance since February.

 

PS: On Monday 15 October 2007,President Hugo Chavez again suggested Venezuela and Cuba could become a confederation. Such suggestion was during during the signing of 14 cooperation treaties at Palacio de las Convenciones in Habana. On Tuesday 16 October, Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa expressed her country respect for the Venezuelan proposal to join with Cuba in a Bolivarian confederation. Venezuela and Mexico recently appointed ambassador to their capital cities to mend deeply severed bilateral relations.  

Sources: Telesur, BBC,Cuba News, El Universal, Aljazeera, Gramma, Juventud Rebelde, Miami Herald, Globovision, Union Radio, RNV, VTV, ABN, Le Figaro, Guardian