May july bulletin edition

BULLETIN Anniversary Edition Vol. 4, Issue 2, May - July 2016

No one will stop the victorious march of the Homeland of Simón Bolívar !

Bolivarian Government of Venezuela

Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs Office of The Deputy Minister for Africa

Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Kenya Concurrent to Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia

Permanent Mission of Venezuela to the United Nations Environment programme (UNEP)and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat).

CONTENTS Communiqué of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela .............................................................pg4 Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Affairs at the UN: .................................................................pg5 International Homeland congress: Ambassador Jorge Valero: ........................................................Pg6 The media that attacks Venezuela the most, financed Obama’s campaign ..............................Pg8 Road to Pan-Africanism : 8th Julius Nyerere Intellectual Festival ............................................Pg10 Venezuela: A socialist state in the big boys’ backyard? ...........................................................Pg11 DIRECTOR: Professor Jhony Balza Arismendi, Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the Republic of Kenya Concurrent to Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia and Permanent Representtive to UNEP and UN - Habitat.

Petrocaribe commemorates 11 years .................Pg12 Misión Milagro (Miracle Mission) 12 years ........Pg13 Mision Robinson ................................................Pg14

CONTRIBUTORS: Keyla Castillo, Attaché

Congratulatory message on the National Day of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezula ........................Pg18

COLLABORATORS Andrew Baraza Daniel Mwangi Fernando Garcia

Tribute to the Independence day of Venezuela .............................................................................Pg19

CONTACT INFORMATION: UN Crescent, Opposite Diplomatic Police, Gigiri, Nairobi Kenya P. O. Box 2437- 00621, Tel: (+254 - 20) 712 06 . 48 / 712 06 . 49 email: bulletinvenekenia@gmail.com Website: kenia.embajada.gob.ve Twitter: @EmbassyVenezK DESIGN / PRINTING: Milka Aweyo smilingmilesventures@gmail.com Published by the Venezuelan Embassy in the Republic of Kenya

Mother Africa: Speech of President Hugo Chávez at the African Union July, 2006 .........................pg20 Opinion: Lewis Maghanga: ...............................Pg24 Sports: Venezuela south american champions ..............................................................................Pg26 Visit by Venezuelas minister for Africa .............Pg28 Venezuela aTourist Destination in international fairs ......................................................................Pg30

EDITORIAL

Prof. Jhony Balza Arismendi

Receive the quarterly newsletter for the period May- June-July 2016. These months mark the third anniversary of this editorial project of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the Republic of Kenya From the moment of our arrival in Kenya in 2013 we thought of this communication task as essential to spread part of the various achievements of the Venezuelan Revolution. Presenting advances in matters of health, education and in the conquest of individual and collective political and economic rights is our duty. It is an inescapable task.

Since the arrival to power of President Hugo Chávez in December 1998 a voice of hope arose to demonstrate that a change of course was possible for the benefit of the popular majority who had always been abandoned and excluded. From Venezuela arose a popular option distinct from the neoliberal project since this meant a violation of the inalienable rights of people. Some economic sectors tried to stop this popular option led by President Chávez. This fuelled a damaging campaign to our national sovereignty and our political transformation process. From that time, in 1998, various national and international actors initiated various plans of destabilization and discrediting to stop the positive social impact of our revolution in the world.

In these times these media campaigns are encouraged against the government of President Maduro, trying to ignore the rights of the majority who lawfully in April 2013 decided to elect him as president to carry out the transformation plans to ensure social and inclusive policies. Various national and international media corporations have increased smear campaigns against Venezuela. These are intended to discredit the Bolivarian revolutionary process.

Certain national and international sectors are upset at the popular character of our political project.

They are uncomfortable that we have asserted our sovereignty to manage our oil and gas natural resources. It bothers them that a Country has decided to claim the anti-imperialist character of our revolution, they are worried about the belligerent role played by President Hugo Chávez yesterday, and by Nicolas Maduro today, to confront the neoliberal projects and the hegemonic positions that some would continue to impose on the world.

Some Governments at international level are concerned to know that processes of integration in Latin America and the Caribbean are stimulated from Venezuela. It annoys them that claims arise out of these projects for a sovereignty that reclaims the ideals of our illustrious Liberators, who yesterday dreamt of a world of equals, of social justice and of emancipatory ideas.

For some sectors at the international level the integration processes in Latin America and the Caribbean, such as the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of our America (ALBA); the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR) represent sovereignty and independence projects, therefore, they attempt to avoid them, to stop them, and try to restrain the peoples from advancing and redefining a new prominence capable of flying new and better economic and social paradigms in the international scenario.

There are people who get angry because today we are not, as we used to be in the past, a country subject to the dictates of powerful nations, because we are no longer, like yesterday, ruled from large economic corporations, or conditioned by the policies of multilateral bodies. Today in Venezuela there are new actors and people who were historically excluded.

These have become not only political actors but also collective historical actors.Because of these reasons, it is necessary to promote and design means such as this newsletter to counter so many lies, such evil and malicious campaign against our people, against our political course.

This communication task for us is of the first order, it is strategic and it is a patriotic task. The idea is disseminating the successes and achievements that our Bolivarian Revolution is conquering despite the many problems we face and that we know we must address and resolve to ensure prosperity and justice. Our people have sufficient moral strength to rise and overcome this adverse situation of today.

Promoting the ideals of our revolution as an alternative before the hundreds of problems that overwhelm humanity is a vital, a fundamental task. Our newsletter has already been three years at this task.

´´No one can stop the victorious march of the homeland of Simón Bolívar´´ July 2016

BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA MINISTRY FOR PEOPLE'S POWER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMUNIQUÉ The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela categorically rejects the approval in the US Congress of the extension of the unilateral, illegal and in violation of international law, the sanctions which the United States of America maintains against our country.

Venezuela is a sovereign country and has been for the last 205 years. We won our independence from the world's most powerful empire, and it will not be precisely the imperial pretensions contained in illegitimate sanctions which will divert our country from the course that its people, in the exercise of their sovereignty, self-determination and participatory and protagonist democracy, they have decided towards the building of a more just, democratic and peaceful society.

We demand President Barack Hussein Obama to respect international law and the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter and once again we urge him not to enact this law which goes against the multilateral system and to repeal the executive order, once he himself has publicly acknowledged that Venezuela poses no threat to the United States. The international community has ratified this message demanding the repeal of US unilateral action.

The imposition of unilateral sanctions on Venezuela demonstrates the double standards of the US government. On the one hand it claims to be in favor of dialogue in Venezuela, and at the same time, with this political gesture, encourages that historically anti-democratic and violent sectors of the opposition, to continue sabotaging efforts to maintain peace and respect the Venezuelan constitutional order.

The People and the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reiterates confidence in their legitimate institutions, and condemn any attempt to not know them and intimidate them, reaffirming their belief in the words of Commander Hugo Chavez: "No one will stop the victorious march of the Homeland of Simon Bolivar!"

Caracas, 7th July, 2016

4

Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Affairs at the UN:

Powers that seek to deny the right to the future of our people

She stressed the importance of selfdetermination of peoples, a principle contemplated in the United Nations Organization; in this context, she reported that "today it is being violated, the principle of self-determination of the people of Venezuela who decided and opted for a model of development, an inclusive model for most of the population."

The Minister of People's Power for Foreign Affairs, Delcy Rodríguez Gómez said on Tuesday at the United Nations Organization (UN) that in Venezuela exists a model promoter and guarantor of human rights, which has been under attack from the international right to serve imperial factors.

She said Venezuela is one of the countries in the region that drives the process of reducing inequality, contrary to the global trend, where the gap between rich and poor widens.

"In Venezuela emerged a protective model, promoter and protector of human rights, despite the difficulties, Venezuela has been able to exhibit beautiful progress in different areas of human rights," Rodriguez said during his speech at the High-Level Panel on human rights.

The head of the Peace Diplomacy called for all efforts of the International Community in the area of human rights be combined to "understand that Venezuela can become a grievous error of foreign powers, which through attacks and the manifold assaults of the powers that seek to deny the right to the future of our people and future generations.”

She said that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is one of the first countries in the international community that is in full compliance with the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals and reducing inequalities.

He also urged the International Community to reflect on the imbalance prevailing on area of human rights taking that today whole regions and peoples whose basic rights are violated massively . "Our permanent tribute to the Palestinian people that every minute undergoes profound and unconscionable violations of human rights of its people."

She stressed the importance for Venezuela to preserve and uphold the fundamental rights of citizens. "We strongly believe in the right to peace as a fundamental right that transcends all other human rights, independently, progressively and integrally and universally, without neglecting the right to a homeland and the future of peoples".

www.mppre.gov.ve New York, July 12, 2016

5

International Homeland Congress

Bolivarian Revolution calls to challenge selfish and predatory global system

The Ambassador of Venezuela to the United Nations Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, Jorge Valero, was entrusted with the inaugural presentation in the International Homeland Congress, in its political plenary, held this Wednesday in the Teatro Principal de Caracas, which was entitled "The challenges of Venezuela in a pluripolarity framework�.

"This Congress of the Nation, convened by President Nicolas Maduro Moros, is an important attempt, a renewed dream to build a world of equals", said Ambassador Valero.

In this context, Valero said that "the Bolivarian revolution invites to challenge a global, consumerist, selfish and predatory system, based on the commodification of man and nature".Also in attendance to the event as speakers were the defender of human rights in Colombia, Piedad Cordoba; the Palestinian Member of Parliament Jamai Haweel and the French presidential candidate Christian Rodriguez.

Bolivarian counter offensive The Venezuelan diplomat stressed the need to contribute to the construction of a new historical block, starting from a Bolivarian counter-offensive that consolidates the victory of the humanist project started by our historical leader Hugo Chavez Frias.

"The Imperial forces and their domestic lackeys have launched against the Bolivarian Revolution the most massive national and international media campaign known in modern times," he said.

"This event, which brings together intellectuals and political leaders from all continents, can contribute to the design of strategies and tactics to confront the enemies of the

6

of the peoples and sovereign countries, and build progressive alternatives at planetary level, in particular in Latin America and the Caribbean," he stated.

Venezuela beacon of hope Ambassador Valero said that the transnational communication companies instead of promoting the values of solidarity and fraternity, are instruments for debasement and alienation, and hence deception and collective manipulation are their favourite recipes to try to undermine the democratic Governments.

"New emerging powers and the resonant voices of sovereign countries, such as Venezuela, are arising today in the world.

Since the rise to power of President Hugo ChĂĄvez, Venezuela began to distinguish itself internationally by its foreign policy, which constituted an alternative to the prevailing system of domination," he said.

He explained that from the beginning, Chavez was determined to contribute to the forging of an international balance, strengthening sovereignty and advancing in the construction of a multipolar world, in the Latin American and Caribbean integration, and in the diversification of international relations.

"The social policies of his Government began to reverse, in asustained manner, the poverty and inequality indexes that characterized the Venezuelan society of old times", he stressed.

INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE HOMELAND

He highlighted that the Bolivarian Revolution was in times of Chavez and continues to be today, under the leadership of Nicolas Maduro Moros, a reference of justice and sovereignty for the peoples of the world.

"Based on our Constitution, it promotes peaceful cooperation among Nations; the principle of non-intervention and the self-determination of peoples; and the democratization of global society", he said.

He added that the Bolivarian Revolution has contributed to the emergence of a new correlation of progressive forces in the continent, claiming the revolutionary and progressive traditions, drinking in the sources of our Liberators.

A revolution for the people Valero said that through the Bolivarian revolution full control of natural resources has been recovered, and the enjoyment of basic services is recognized by the State as a human right, and public policies are instruments to leverage autonomous and independent development, free from the tyranny of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

He stressed that Venezuela has stood up, with patriotic and Bolivarian spirit,in the face of escalating interventionism, which will pass to the annals of the media, financial and criminal siege against a brave and sovereign country.

"In the face of the wild globalization and subordinate and dependent integration driven by neoliberalism and imperialism, the Bolivarian Revolution promotes the globalization of justice and equity", he declared.

"We have a Government and a people that are willing to defend the conquests achieved in the framework of the Bolivarian Revolution ", he said. www.mppre.gob.ve

7

CNN carried out a good part of the electoral campaign of the Venezuelan opposition abroad

The media that attacks Venezuela the most, financed Obama’s campaign

MISION VERDAD Not only economically. Security and defence areas, middle ranking officials of the Secretary of State Office and other entities of the US Government also fall within the favours to be paid back in the future.

All media and companies play politics using their economic power. An example is Fedecamaras demanding their National Assembly one day after the elections to immediately repeal the Law on Fair Pricing and that on Labour. Because with those laws a businessman who has never invested in Venezuela and who has made a fortune with the dollars of PDVSA, certainly cannot deliver. That way, I can’t.

With regard to psychological operations and media aggression against Venezuela, CNN is always there early. The promotional start of the electoral campaign of the opposition for the parliamentary elections of last year had CNN as its main ally.

Mainly through its correspondent Osmary Hernandez, who produced a false live report on presumed looting and civil unrest in early August in Maracay and Valencia, events that CNN acknowledged to be false after broadcasting them internationally.

That fabricated event was used, among other things, in the marketing campaign of MUD about “the last queue” as a slogan of the campaign. On his part, the former Head of the US Southern Command, John Kelly, in exactly the same platform, explained the conditions under which USA would invade Venezuela. Conditions that already had a false precedent (looting and civil unrest for food), which the CNN correspondent had exported two months earlier.

CNN carried out the better part of the electoral campaign of MUD abroad.Even after having had prime airtime, the opposition actors, with broadcasts in hundreds of countries and having received good political treatment, insist on speaking about lack of freedom of expression and accuse the Government of not allowing them to express themselves. They sell themselves as martyrs of non-existent censorship, of an imaginary prosecution, while they have enormous support that cannot be regulated by any international body, as it is private property exercising their right to do whatever they please, even in the political arena.MUD is only a receivable account within the dictatorial system of the media at global scale.

In this primary sense, CNN acted as an advertising agency, and the opposition now has a debt that, to make things worse grows exponentially as time goes by. Macri paid well, for he took Telesur and RT out of national television broadcasting to broadcast instead in the Chilean version of CNN. CNN is part of the Time Warner Cable conglomerate, the largest media corporation in the world in terms of annual income (7,350 million dollars in the 3rd quarter of the year 2015) and number of channels. According to the official page of the Nasdaq indicator, some of the most representative global banks that manipulate the image of Venezuela, such as Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, among others, are shareholders in this corporation.

But, specifically, we are talking about Turner Broadcasting Company, the subsidiary of Time Warner that is administered by CNN. It is named after Ted Turner, a businessman that founded the company and CNN, the first 24 hours instant news coverage cable channel.

Turner Broadcasting holds Ted Turner as a historical figure and a shareholder, a place he now shares with large banks and middle size investment funds after the acquisition of Time Warner.

But the piece of data that finally completes the political picture in which a media and financial corporation deploys itself against Venezuela is not based on its systematic campaigns, but on how the capital flows to offer media support and assistance.

According to the political responsibility centre Open Secrets, President Barak Obama had in Time Warner one of the big financiers of his electoral campaign, both in 2008, when it outlaid 627,000$, and in his various senatorial campaigns. Historically, the figure reaches 1,115,000$. In his 2012 campaign, Time Warner financed him again with 447,000$. Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan (part owners of Time Warner), for example, also appear as top financiers, having outlaid over 1 million dollars for Obama’s campaigns in the course of his entire political career.

If “the monkey dances for money”, then Obama, Ramos Allup and the rest of the brittle MUD must be happy within the same cage of the brand Acme. The intensive surveillance and media judgement work that CNN attempts to exercise on Venezuela on daily basis together with right-wing actors are reinforced by an Obama that also responds organically and financially to those commercial interests that group all of them together.

CNN puts the rhythm and the symphony for all of them to dance close together, but without indecently touching one another.

Thus, it appears that each one minds his own business.In such sense, there isn’t “freedom of expression” and “independence” of the media with regard to politics that a few thousand dollars cannot rectify.

The right-wing has the support of one of the most important television networks in the planet. But since all is done in the name of freedom, the truly deafening data pass unnoticed: a private corporation pays and offers its infrastructure to encourage the overthrow of a president legitimately elected by the majority of Venezuelans.That is not corruption. Say it there, Obama.

Ciudad CCS Caracas, 8th July, 2016

8

A Tribute to His Memory

Francisco de Miranda 14th July 1816 - 14th July 2016

200yrs of his death and his ideas continue to be in force

Francisco de Miranda an illustrious Venezuelan.

Man of emancipatory ideas, was protagonist of our independence feat of 1810.

A universal figure who participated in the independence of the United States. In 1792 he got involved in the French Revolution where he was credited with the title of Hero of the Revolution. His name is on the Arc de Triumph.

July 14, 2016 marked the 200th anniversary of the absence of this patriot.

We pay tribute and honor his memory. He was born in Caracas, Venezuela in 1750, was a dreamer of free Republics of free and equal men.

9

Road to Pan-Africanism Ambassador Jhony Balza Arismendi Attends the 8th Julius Nyerere Intellectual Festival The University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, hosted the Eighth Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Festival coordinated by the Chair that bears the name of this distinguished teacher. The specific location was the Kwame Nkrumah auditorium, attended by scholars, students, politicians and diplomats interested in reflecting on Nyerere’s force of thought, on the historical impact that meant his struggle at a local level for the liberation of Tanzania, at an international level his commitment to the organization and definition of Pan-Africanism as a political option for freedom . This seminar reflected on his consistency and theoretical production to vindicate the South-South Cooperation.

The program had several axes that were addressed in several lectures from the 14th to the 16th of June 2016.

The Keynote Address was given by former President Benjamin Mkapa who masterfully reflected on his tenure (1995-2005) as president, on the influence he had received from Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. He highlighted on the different moments of the liberation movement in Africa and its impact on the world. Didactically he reviewed several cyclical and structural elements that characterized the political and economic process in Tanzania at that time. The rest of the presentations of the first day revolved around the self-sustainability and Julius Nyerere’s project of focusing development on the person. In short, we could say that in the vision of this distinguished leader and teacher on development, humanism stood as a priority.

The second day, on Wednesday 15th June, was on the international incidence of Nyerere's ideas. As panelists, several Ambassadors gathered to expound on the figure of Nyerere: Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa and Palestine. The dialogue with the audience united with the papers that recounted the depth of thoughts of Nyerere, provoked paths of high level academic discussions. It echoed the need to return to the pan-African values of the 50's and the urgency to continue the dialogue with the resistance cultures.

In this dialog Ambassador Balza intervened to highlight on the figure of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, referring to Mwalimu he said ''Nyerere's thought emerges as latent flare; it stimulates the accumulated wisdom of our people. Today we are motivated and encouraged to fly the flag of a sovereign, libertarian and independent development. Reflecting on Nyerere it is inescapable to remember that the South also exists''. He culminated by reporting that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the recent future, September 2016, will Chair the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). It is an opportunity to promote other events like this. It is an option to stimulate closeness; it is an opportunity to meet. It would be a space to assess the thought of Julius Nyerere and Hugo Chavez, icons of the South-South cooperation.

On the third and final day, two presentations of particular importance were discussed. Nyerere's role in the emancipation of women and the importance of education for self-sustainability: Women participators substantiated about women's liberation preached by Nyerere and how these played a key role in building the liberation of Tanzania. Feminists and passionate Africanists recognized that Nyerere made substantial changes in the cultural field 10

UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM MWALIMU JULIUS NYERERE CHAIR IN PAN–AFRICAN STUDIES P.O BOX 35091 DAR ES SALAAM Tel 255-22-2410763 Mobile : 0754-461703, 0754-281837 27th June 2016 H.E The Ambassador The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Embassy to Tanzania Your Excellency Ambassador Prof Jhonny Balza, A NOTE OF APPRECIATION AND THANKS. On behalf of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, Prof Rwekaza Mukandala and on my own behalf, please allow me to express our very sincere thanks to you, Your Excellency, for coming to attend the 8thMwalimu Julius Nyerere Festival on 14th – 16th June 2016 at this University.

We were very much touched by the fact that you took time off your very busy schedule to come all the way from Nairobi to attend this event for three days. This for us is a very strong show of solidarity. We also thank you for your valuable, insightful and active participation in the discussions during the intellectual debates. Many of the people who heard you speak have sincerely appreciated what you said which opened up their eyes and made them reflect on both Venezuela and Tanzania, our struggles and the long friendship that has existed between our countries.

Thank you very much for gracing this event with your presence, Your Excellency, and for our future collaboration.

I will get back to you very soon on communication with the Institute of Strategic Research About Africa and its Diaspora in Caracas.

Yours Sincerely, Professor Penina Mlama, Mwalimu Nyerere Chair in Pan African Studies

to fight the oppression of African women. Panelists in education field highlighted the actions that Nyerere had implemented to transform a colonial culture in a dignified nation, with thoughtful citizens.

Noted was the impressive attendance of young students and visiting professors at the international level, called by the same desire to seek and think of the freedom of all oppressed people today.

Solidarity with nations such as the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic was palpable. The affection and the seriousness with which the event was organized and reviewed leave witness of the efforts of the revolutionary intellectuals to continue fighting without respite the voracious neo-liberalism.

An important mention we must emphasize in our newsletter pages; to recognize the role of Professor Penina Mlama, who was in charge of coordinating the event and attended to every detail for both attendees and panelists to enjoy this extraordinary event. A great work, no doubt, she was inspired by the legacy of one of the greats of the South: Julius Nyerere.

All events like this seminar that vindicate the study, assessment, analysis and reflection of thought of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, is to be admired by all men and women of this planet, at least, for those who inhabit the southern hemisphere.

Tanzanian journalist in solidarity with Venezuela

Venezuela: A socialist state in the

big boys’ backyard?

country in the neighbourhood wanting to pursue an ideology, which is socialism - certainly poles apart from what is pursued in the United States?

Since 2005, Venezuela has provided ‘‘heating oil’’ through subsidies for low income communities in the United States, thanks to our company, CITGO.

According to President Maduro in his letter to the people of the United States: “Incredibly, the United States government has declared our country a threat to its national security and foreign policy.”

This contribution has helped tens of thousands of American citizens survive in harsh conditions, giving them relief and necessary support in times of need; ‘‘evidencing how solidarity can create powerful alliances across borders…”

“In a disproportionate action, the Obama Administration issued a ‘National Emergency’ declaring Venezuela a threat to its national security via his Executive Order of 15th September 2015 imposing sanctions,” writes President Maduro.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a letter to the people of the United States. Those following world news broadcast by global TV news networks have seen reports of shortages of basic goods which have hit and hurt Venezuela in the intervening period and right now a referendum is in the offing in which Venezuelans will decide whether to keep or fire their President, Nicolas Maduro Moros.

He adds: “This unilateral and aggressive measure taken by the United States Government against our country is not only unfounded and in violation of basic principles of sovereignty and self determination under international law has also been unanimously rejected by all 33 nations of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and the 12 member states of the Union of South American nations.”

President Maduro, a successor of the late socialist President Hugo Chavez has followed the same socialist political line of his predecessor, who literally put his country on the annals of fame by pursuing a socialist agenda like that of Castro’s Cuba.

If one were to go by the quotation at the launch of this perspective, one would form the impression that this Latin American country is far from a poor country; it is oil rich.

If it has been able to provide American people with “heating oil”, via its publicly owned company how then does it find itself in the current situation of shortages everywhere? It was not until I came across a document on the Internet by the Venezuelan leader who had written an open letter to the people of the United States.

Follow the letter with me: “ The histories of our people have been connected since the beginning of our struggles for freedom. Francisco de Miranda,” a Venezuelan hero, met George Washington and Thomas Jefferson during the first few years of the United States as an independent nation.

“They discussed about ideals such as liberty and justice, which were fundamental concepts in our struggle for independence. We share the idea that freedom and independence are fundamental elements for the development of our nations.”

“But since 2005, Venezuela has provided ‘‘heating oil’’ through subsidies for low income communities in the United States, thanks to our company CITGO. This contribution has helped tens of thousands of American citizens survive in harsh conditions, giving them relief and necessary support in times of need, evidencing how solidarity can create powerful alliances across border.”

President Maduro Wound up in his letter to American people: “In the name of our long-term friendship, we alert our American brothers and sisters of the illegal aggression committed by your government on your behalf.

We will not allow our friendship with the people of the United States to be affected by these groundless sanctions against our country.”

“Venezuela is not a threat, but a hope.

Independence or nothing.” For us in Tanzania especially those in the elderly generation reading these lines that were around in this country in the late seventies and eighties, immediately after the war with Ugandan dictator Iddi Amin, this country also expected widespread shortages of basic goods similar to those being experienced by Venezuelans.

That war, to rid us of an eccentric dictator across the border and emptied our treasury. But it was a good opportunity for imperialist powers to bring us to our knees to turn away from our socialist path then.

That was impossible during the leadership of Mwalimu Nyerere then. For Dr Nyerere was his own man; not the level of a leader who would forget his shoes in haste once beckoned by the big boys of this world to visit them!

This is the way I see it in so far as the predicament of Venezuela’s Maduro is concerned. For the powers that be in this world today, for a leader to be his own man is a huge problem to them.

Going by President Maduro’s statement you have just sampled, one is at a loss on what has happened to Venezuela to suffer crippling shortages we see relayed globally on television and people lining up for this and that of basic needs.

They need leaders in the Third World who would stay deeply in their pocket, taking order at their whims and pleasure! Surely Venezuela is not a threat, but constitutes hope. For Venezuelans, it is independence or nothing.

If such were excellent relations between the two countries in the Americas what is it that has provoked sore relations? Is it the prospect of a

Venceremos!

11

makwaia@spicenet.co.tz

Petrocaribe Energy for Union

Petrocaribe commemorates 11 years of energy integration and social development of the people development and solidarity of the Caribbean countries, which we have been promoting with the aim to further enhance the capabilities we have in oil, gasified and petrochemical materials, but also covers cultural, technological, educational exchange among others." he stressed.

Petrocaribe in 11 years has driven the economic and social transformation of the people of the nations that comprise it. This mechanism has strengthened a new favorable equitable and fair exchange scheme, among the nations of the Caribbean region, to ensure regular access to energy resources.

The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, on Wednesday 29th June 2016, celebrated 11 years of the creation of Petrocaribe, a regional integration mechanism that allows for the integral development and solidarity of the Caribbean countries.

The agency coordinates and articulates the policies of energy, including oil and its derivatives, gas, electricity and their efficient use, technological cooperation, training, energy infrastructure development, and harnessing alternative sources such as wind and solar power.

The Head of State stressed that Petrocaribe is one of the legacies "of agreements and forms of regional cooperation and integration" created by President Hugo Chavez.

The president recalled that on the 29th June, 2005 Petrocaribe was born as part of the First Energy Meeting of Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean, held in Puerto La Cruz, with the initial subscription of 14 countries in the region.

It is currently composed of 19 countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, El Salvador, Granada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Surinam and Venezuela.

"This mechanism of energy and social regional integration allows for the integral

www.avn.info.ve

12

What the big press do not say

Mission Milagro 12yrs

• MISSION MIRACLE

Taking care of the people of venezuela

Programmes and Projects on Free Access to Health Care.Welfare programme started in 2004; it looks after low-income patients with eye disorders for free, given solution to eye health disorders of our people.

Misión Milagro (Miracle Mission) has operated about 2 million 700 thousand Venezuelans The Misión Milagro was born in 2004, and to date has managed to restore sight to millions of people, thanks to the dream come true of Commanders Chavez and Fidel and the efforts of a team of health servants dedicated to their work daily.

The Misión Milagro reached its 12th anniversary this 8th of July, with successful figures and the great challenge of moving forward in their daily work to provide eye care to all Venezuelans.

"We are celebrating with great joy, we are already at number 2 million 700 thousand surgeries to Venezuelan patients and throughout Latin America Misión Milagro has been deployed in all corners of our Great Homeland, reaching 6 million of patients undergoing surgery, "said Ricardo Riera, CEO of the Mission.

Riera reported that the mission currently has "90 centers, which serve different, eye diseases; we have 18 centres headed by Cuban medical mission; we have a display of inputs, delivering the latest technology it acquired the Misión Milagro through the agreement with China-Venezuela, where the country invested 41 million dollars.”

He added that we are in the process of negotiation "to bring the country 21 million dollars in the latest technology for surgical procedures," and highlighted the contributions in infrastructure and conditioning, conducted by the Misión Milagro to ophthalmological services of the hospitals in the country "so that Misión Milagro work in an optimal and appropriate manner, for Venezuelans and foreign patients visiting our country."

He noted that internationally, in addition to Cuba, Mission Miracle has performed surgeries in Granada, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Finally, Riera said the biggest achievement is to witness, "how through operation of just 30 minutes, changes the life of a person to regain their vision; patients, doctors, staff of the mission have cried together to witness the miracle that a person can see again. " The Miracle was born in 2004, and to date has managed to restore sight to millions of people, thanks to the dream come true of Commanders Chavez and Fidel, and the efforts of a team of health servants dedicated to their work daily. www.misionmilagro.gob.ve

13

Freeing the people from ignorance and domination

Mission Robinson

turns 13

13 years ago, the leader of the Bolivarian Revolution, Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias, created one of the most beautiful works, the "Mission Robinson", with focus on adults, promoting a comprehensive education for those who historically had been excluded from the education system, with dramatic balances of political and social crisis in Venezuela during the 40 years of capitalist and neoliberal governments.

The governments of the Fourth Republic always maintained the Venezuelan people at the periphery, promoting the deterioration of the public education system and the exclusion of the population from the formal education, this is why in the 90s, there was an illiteracy rate of approximately 2 million Venezuelans, which translates to almost 9% of the population over 10 years.

Through the method "Yes I Can", designed by the Cuban professor Leonela Realy (who combined numerical data and language to induce learning), Mission Robinson I began, with the participation of educational institutions, social, youth and Community organizations that installed a total of 80,000 literacy points across the country.

After the arrival of Commander Chavez to the presidency of the Republic, the rescue and re-foundation of the national education system was granted special priority. The budget allocation was raised from 2.8 % of the gross domestic product to more than 7%, and the transformation of the educational process was promoted with an objective to end the exclusion that caused illiteracy.

Goals

Mission Robinson aimed to eliminate illiteracy in young people and adults across the country. It promoted reading comprehension in each of the beneficiaries.

This important program was conceived as a joint strategy between citizens, through their social organizations and government institutions. The activities began on 23rd May, 2003, with a pilot scheme implemented in the Capital District and the states of Vargas, Miranda and Aragua. Successful results confirmed the selection plan of the educational project, which, on the 1st July 2003, the Special Literacy Plan "Simon Rodriguez" known as Mission Robinson was formally launched.

This mission was inspired by the principles of equity, gender equality and respect for all schools of thought. The aim was to develop the creative potential of every human being and the full exercise of their personality in a democratic society. Therefore, this program showed a palpable result of what a government that has humanism as guide and principle and the direct attention to the dispossessed is capable of doing.

Thus named in honor of the great thinker and Venezuelan teacher Simon Rodriguez, it was born with the purpose that all Venezuelans, regardless of age, condition or geographic location, could defend themselves and represent a tool against the imperialism exerted by the economic powers.

On 28th October, 2005, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was declared an illiteracy-free territory, with 1.5 million Venezuelans, in a letter sent to the Minister of Education on that date, professor Aristobulo Isturiz, by the director general of the

Achievements

14

our response, the response of the people and the revolutionary government," he expressed in the 279th Alo Presidente program, in a Mission Robinson II graduation ceremony held at the Teresa Carreño Theatre, on 27th March, 2007.

The leader of the Revolution maintained that all educational programs developed by the Bolivarian Government should be seen as tools of liberation and that their analysis must go beyond the pedagogical fact, since "it is a political fact for liberating the homeland, cutting the chains of domination and ignorance."

Organization of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Koichiro Matsuura.

Mission Robinson has managed to alphabetize our indigenous people in the states of Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Bolivar, Delta Amacuro, Monagas, Sucre and Zulia, providing integral assistance to one of the most neglected sectors of the nation. In this way, teaching reading and writing to the indigenous people has been one of the biggest challenges of the mission, since it was necessary to translate the texts into indigenous languages: Jivi, Ye'kwana, Kariña and Warao.

Since its inception, Mission Robinson has spearheaded the inclusion of the prison population to the Venezuelan educational system, thus enabling literacy, pursuing to the sixth grade of elementary school and continuity to the Ribas and Sucre missions of all those prisoners that require it.

For people with visual disabilities, the primer "Yes I Can" in "the Braille System" and manuals specifically designed for the blind, produced material that is innovative, practical and tailored to the needs of the users.Chavez, the unforgettable educator.

During a graduation ceremony of 433students of the Mission Robinson II Pilot Plan, held in December 2004 in the Rios Reyna hall of the Teresa Carreño Theatre, Chávez said: "More than a thousand highways and more than a thousand homes, it is important for the human being to learn, to fly free. Of what worth are more than a million highways if through them walk ignorant people? If we want to end poverty, let us give power to the people and the first power is education. " For Chavez, Mission Robinson was the revolutionary counteroffensive, after the imperialist and fascist aggression and the coup of 2002-2003. "That was

Today, the revolutionary process continues in the country, strengthening the people through education and giving guarantees of a better life, today 13 years after the creation of the Robinson Mission, thousands of Venezuelans can say in full voice "Yes I can".

Productive Mission Robinson 2 On 25th January this year, the initial class Training Process of the Productive Mission Robinson 2 was initiated, with more than 170,000 registered men and women, who with the support of the National Executive, will culminate their primary studies up to the 6th grade, with a productive component.

This production component is a crosscutting issue in the Productive Robinson 2 National Plan, to ensure labor practice in the holistic training process of patriots.The process allows the development of habits, skills, values and norms of social and labor behavior and the training of the patriot to solve problems and develop productive activities.

It is based on teaching aids, the curriculum and the syllabus.The training plan is still divided into two blocks: one that prepares the patriot from the 1st to the 4th grade and a second block that integrates the 5th grade and the 6th grade for the completion of the primary level.In both blocks, the following subjects are taught: Language, Mathematics, History, Geography and Natural Sciences.

Likewise, the training programs of Ciara, Fondas, Inces and the zamoranas and robinsonian technical schools related to agriculture, livestock and industry and in the last block, basic elements of computer science and foreign languages are also incorporated.

With all these achievements in education, at present, we can say and proudly say that citizens in rural, urban, indigenous and prison population ceased to be rejected by the Venezuelan educational system. Today, they know how to read and write; today, no one can fool them, they know the wealth that the country owns and thanks to the plan that the revolutionary government has carried out, the people have the power in their hands.

15

YVKE World Radio

years

SPREADING THE SOCIAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE VENEZUELAN REVOLUTION

2013

2014

2015

LLETIN BU Anniversary Edition VOL. 4, ISSUE 2

2016 No one will stop the victorious march of the Homeland of Simón Bolívar !

Bolivarian Government of Venezuela

16

Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs Office of The Deputy Minister for Africa

Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Kenya Concurrent to Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Somalia

Permanent Mission of Venezuela to the United Nations Environment programme (UNEP)and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat).

MARCH 2015

OCTOBER 2015

SPECIAL BULLETINS

MARCH 2014

NOVEMBER 2015

This publication (magazine) for us is of the first order, it is strategic and it is a patriotic task. The idea is disseminating the successes and achievements that our Bolivarian Revolution is conquering despite the many problems we face and that we know and must address and resolve to ensure prosperity and justice.

Our people have sufficient moral strength to rise and overcome this adverse situation of today.

Promoting the ideals of our socialist revolution as an alternative before the hundreds of problems that overwhelm humanity is a priority, a fundamental task.

Our newsletter has already been three years at this inescapable task.

17

The Republic of Kenya salutes the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE ON THE NATIONAL DAY OF THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA TO BE OBSERVED ON 5TH JULY, 2016 FORM:

H.E HON. UHURU KENYATTA, C.G.H PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA STATE HOUSE NAIROBI

TO:

H.E NICOLĂ S MADURO MOROS PRESIDENT OF THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA CARACAS

On behalf of the Government and the people of the Republic of Kenya, and on my own behalf, I extend most cordial congratulations to your Excellency and through you to the Government and the people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on the occasion of your National Day, the 205th Anniversary of Independence celebrated on 5th July, 2016.

This year marks the thirty third Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Kenya and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Your Excellency, I am indeed pleased with the existing brotherly relations between Kenya and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Our countries have continued to develop in diverse sectors for the benefit of our peoples through technical assistance, educational scholarships, culture and deepen these relations, our countries hold the second (2nd) session of the Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) in the near future.

Your excellency, I assure you that Kenya is committed to expanding relations and exploring more mutually beneficial areas of cooperation both at bilateral and multilateral levels with you, as we will continue working together to promote cooperation between our citizens and at the international level.

Mr. President, may I again congratulate you and the people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on your National Day and send you my best wishes and continued prosperity for the people of Venezuela.

Your Excellency, please accept the assurances of my highest consideration.

22nd June, 2016

18

Tribute to the independence day of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

On the 5th July,2016 in Nairobi Kenya, Venezuelans worthy sons and daughters of libertarian ideas paid tribute to the date of independence; They paid tribute to the 205 years of the independence process of 1811.

In the words of Ambassador Jhony Balza who made a brief tour of the history of Venezuela to address those present. ‘‘several were the uprisings and insurrections against the slave system in the seventeenth century, which had protagonist men and women coming from Africa who through the slave trade were taken forcefully to what today is known as Venezuelan territory.Being in Kenya, Africa, it is important to reiterate it to highlight the historical and cultural contributions of this continent to our diversity.

Undoubtedly, those seeds of libertarian ideas forged the spirit and ideals of justice in Simon Bolivar, liberator father, who along with other patriots devoted in 1811 the independence process, that today after 205 years, we pay tribute.It is relevant that the emancipatory ideas of Bolivar today remain a historical reference. These ideas with time have represented qualitative leaps for the final overcoming of all forms of domination.

Today we are not a country subject to dictates of powerful nations, ruled from large economic corporations or conditioned by policies of multilateral organizations.The high level of political understanding of our population grew from the influence of the role and figure of Hugo Chavez in the national and international stage.

Nobody can deny that the Venezuelan experience, with all faults we have committed, has become a political-legal alternative to ensure the full exercise of participatory democracy.

Today there are new actors and subjects who were historically excluded. These have not just become a political subject but also a collective historical subject.History for some is a matter for archives and libraries. For us it is not only this, history is also a stage where millions of efforts have been aired as demonstrated by the long and hard struggle of people for their final emancipation. History allows us to be aware of what we are and what we are willing to defend. We are part of a heroic past and a heroic present that belongs to us. We are part of a people who dared to stage a revolution knowing that it would not be easy.

Some economic sectors both internal and external do not forgive us that we have assumed sovereignty over the Orinoco Oil Belt, the largest oil reserve in the world, which under previous governments had been in the hands of multinationals.The International press just like the national try to hide that in Venezuela, thanks to our revolution from 1998; today we are ranked the 2nd country in Latin 19

America and 5th in the world in college admission. These are achievements recognized and legitimated by UNESCO. These sectors resent the fact that the integrationist proposal of Liberator Bolivar was stimulated by Hugo Chavez together with other leaders with the encouragement of the people who sponsor sovereign integration processes.

The best evidence is there ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America), CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) and UNASUR (Union of South American Nations) to achieve social and economic benefits for the majority.

Today, before the aforementioned, Venezuela is a victim of what the world knows as fourth generation warfare and media terrorism.

Adverse sectors to our revolutionary process have control over the means of communication and from here intensify destabilization campaigns and stimulate, with international support, very distant virtual truths of the real truths.

Today's struggle for Venezuelan independence is to achieve the consolidation and completion of that process undertaken 205 years ago''.

Embassy of Venezuela in Kenya

Venezuela South American Champions Two time winners in

Basketball

The most valuable for the national quintet was Gregory Vargas, who with 23 touchdowns loaded on his shoulders the team to get this important victory, before leaving for the Olympic Games in Rio.

W

ith great fanfare, the fans present celebrated that which is the third South American title for Venezuela and second in a row, after winning the 2014 championship of Margarita and the first place of Valencia 1991.

Once the time of the last quarter was exhausted, where the Venezuelan defense and public pressure was crucial, the violet quintet jumped onto the field with the tricolor flag on hand to celebrate what is also its third title run, as they come to be continental champions Basketball in the Pre-Olympic qualifiers, Mexico 2015.

Venezuela won the title, held in Caracas Polyhedron that took place from June 26th to Saturday July 2nd in Caracas, after beating Brazil 64-58 in the final of the South American Championship Basketball event, Caracas 2016.

Venezuela's victory over Brazil also meant winning the title with an unbeaten record with a total of six matches won.

‘‘The Creoles’’ came from behind in a match unfit for heart and was very even from the beginning.

www.correodelorinoco.gob.ve 20

5th July, 2016. Venezuela National Day Unity through sports

Student sports day served to expand kenya -venezuela links The Students Sports Day on Saturday July 9 July, Served to expand the links of friendship between Kenya and Venezuela.

Football as a Sports Discipline facilitated rapprochement and fraternity for the Venezuelan ambassador to extend friendship to students from the Technical University of Kenya.

The youths of this University played the KenyaVenezuela Friendship Cup as part of sports activities promoted by the Embassy of Venezuela as a strategy to consolidate friendship and fraternal relations. This event will permit future exploration of contacts between young Venezuelans and Kenyans in sports.

In a brief intervention before delivering the cup to the winning team, Ambassador Balza stressed the need to know each for in this way overlook propaganda that sometimes circulates in some social networks with the intent to discredit an Our Political process in the world.

This bond of friendship will continue with stimulus once more in the future. In September this year, this experience will be repeated in the context of the various initiatives that will be organized to celebrate the presidency of Venezuela in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Apart from Ambassador Balza this football event was graced by Ms. Keyla Castillo Solano -Venezuelan diplomat, Mr. Francis Oduor-Sports Director of the Technical University of Kenya, Mr. Marcos Too- Student Sports Secretary and the representative of Kenya-Venezuela Friendship NetworkMr. Paul Victor.

Embassy of Venezuela, Nairobi

21

233 years of birth of the immortal liberator 24th July 1783

Because I love freedom I have noble and liberal sentiments, and if I tend to be severe , it is only with those who seek to destroy us.

SimĂłn BolĂ­var 1783-1830

22

An opinion on the Bolivarian Revolution The Bolivarian Revolution is progress in the existence of humanity

of the giant trusts, monopoly combines and international corporations with a foot in the economy of Venezuela have tried in every possible way to sabotage the economy of Venezuela. The imperialist countries of the North, where these companies are mostly based, have been constantly trying to harass the government of the people of Venezuela in order to ensure that their private interests are restored.

By Lewis Maghanga Njuguna, member of the KVFSC

‘‘The defence of our freedom is a right that we will never give up because it is here where the future of humanity lies.’’ These famous words of the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, dig deep into the conscience of every thinking man. Every human being in the world, no matter their race, gender or nationality, would love to live as a free human being, and would derive the greatest satisfaction by seeing that his fellow human beings enjoy freedom at its highest level. Indeed, the future of humanity rests in the greatest pinnacles of freedom for every human being.

Clearly, every revolution has its adversaries, and revolutionaries always face the threat of reactionaries. The United States, the leading imperialist government of the world, has for years tried to strangle the people of Venezuela into capitulation. The financial and commercial blockade they imposed is obviously in place to facilitate the collapse of the Revolution. The several sanctions and travel bans in place are needless to mention.

The Bolivarian Revolution is for the people of Venezuela the result of a determination to advance and progress economically and to realize the highest standards of living for every citizen of Venezuela. From its onset, the revolution ensured that the petroleum resources of Venezuela are used for the benefit of the people of Venezuela, not just a tiny elite of capitalist monopolists.

The government of the United States, in traditional imperialist fashion, issued an Executive Order declaring Venezuela a threat to its security. The US Congress synonymously approved the extension of the unilateral and illegal sanctions maintained by the US against Venezuela.

This continues to be done in other sectors of the economy in order to give every citizen the full enjoyment of the products of their labour and to ensure the just distribution of the resources of the country. Needless to mention, the social amenities of Venezuela have improved tremendously. The people of Venezuela have access to adequate housing, education and medical care.

‘‘For the people of the world, the Bolivarian Revolution is an initiative by some members of the human race to advance the common interests of the majority and to ensure that freedom for each is the necessary condition for the freedom of all.’’

Further, it is an opportunity to affirm the right of national self determination and to break away from the forces of imperialism and neocolonialism. It is an opportunity for the people of Venezuela to resurrect the revolutionary ideas of Simon Bolivar, the great liberator, as well as heroes such as Ezequiel Zamora, who served to improve and support the socialist project that was later led by commander Hugo Chavez. It is an opportunity for the people of Venezuela to stand firm, in the face of imperialist aggression, and defend the future of generations to come. For the people of the world, the Bolivarian Revolution is an initiative by the people of Venezuela to advance the common interests of the majority and to ensure that freedom for each is the necessary condition for the freedom of all.

The people of Venezuela, steadfastly and with heroic determination, have luckily repelled any such advances and are holding on to their revolution, albeit with difficulty. The people of Venezuela, through the Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs, issued a Communique on the 7th of July 2016, demanding that President Obama respects international law and the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter, in addition to repealing the Executive Order, once he himself has publicly acknowledged that Venezuela poses no threat to the United States. The significance of this is that it affirms the steadfastness of the people of Venezuela in defending the Bolivarian Revolution.

As people of Kenya, in the spirit of global antiimperialism, we express our full solidarity with the people of Venezuela in their struggle against imperialist aggression. As the Red Flag Editorial Board, in the spirit of socialist internationalism, we stand with the Bolivarian Revolution and everyone who works for the triumph of socialism throughout the world. Most importantly, as members of the global society, we support fully the right of every human being throughout the world to determine the direction that they want to take and to decide the path of their destiny.

Long live the Bolivarian Revolution!

For this reason, it is hardly surprising that the people of the world, the masses, the rest of the human beings outside Venezuela with a clear conscience, should stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela and help them in defending their greatest achievement, the Bolivarian Revolution.

Naturally, Venezuela has faced a series of difficulties since the inception of the Bolivarian Revolution. The owners and managers

23

HUGO CHÁVEZ FRÍAS

Mother Africa In July 2006 the Venezuelan ex President Hugo Chavez visited Gambia. At that time he was attending the seventh summit of the African Union in Banjul.......Ten years since then, in his speech he stressed a set of proposals to design and articulate different strategies that would become alternatives to the imperialist policies of multinationals towards our countries.

First of all, I would like, from the bottom of my heart, to greet Africa, all the African peoples, from the north, from the Mediterranean Sea, through these wide central lands, from the east, from the west and from the south of Africa.

In the name of the Venezuelan people, I wish to exceedingly thank you for inviting me to this Summit Meeting, mister Chairperson of the African Union, mister Secretary General of the United Nations, mister Chairman of the Commission of the African Union, misters Presidents, Heads of State, Prime Ministers, Chancellors, Ambassadors and other High Officials and Dignitaries of the governments shaping the African Union.

The first idea I want to expose, along with the greetings and regards, is to pay tribute to Mother Africa. From Latin America, from the Caribbean, we have been strengthening the conscience of our reality, of our history, of our origins, inspired there in Venezuela for the words, the libertarian and revolutionary ideas of Simón Bolívar, Liberator of the Americas.

Simón Bolívar said in 1815, while staying in the sister Republic of Jamaica, through his famous writing “La Carta de Jamaica” (Jamaica Letter), that southern Americans, Americans of dark skin, Americans from the Caribbean and Latin America, are neither Europeans nor North Americans, we are rather a mixture of Africa and Indigenous America. Every day, we are becoming more and more aware of our African roots, of our Indigenous roots.

A few days ago, we were sharing with a great friend and brother, President of Bolivia, Evo Morales. We were there in the Bolivian Altiplano (high plateau), in the Tiwanaku, where preColumbian culture was settled, where we find the pyramids and the traces of a great civilization that existed in the American continent before the arrival of conquerors, of colonizers and empires.

Civilizations such as the Aymara, Quechua, Inca, Aztec and Maya were prosperous original cultures of the Americas. But then, conquest, occupation, colonialism and genocide arrived.

Nevertheless, a mixture with Africa was produced, a mixture with African black race. A mixture of African root depth and Indigenous American root depth; and here we are, half Indigenous, half Africans. Therefore, I have come to pay a tribute to our Mother Africa.

Many times, during childhood, we were told Spain was our Mother Country, we acknowledge this as well, despite of the entire trauma produced by conquest and abuse of colonialism. But, if Spain is our mother, I say Africa is even a greater mother for all of us. Mother Africa.

Precisely, along with Evo Morales, Aymara President of Bolivia, along with millions of indigenous people, mixed race people, black people – and also white people, since we are not racist. We are not against white people, we believe in racial equality, in gender equality; and we proclaim and practice all this – we are deepening the recovery of our roots, of our America’s real meaning.

That is why, mister Chairperson of the African Union, mister President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadineyad, I want, in first place, to start my speech by paying a homage, from the bottom of the heart of my people, to all Africa and, along with it, to our brothers and sisters of this continent.

24

Hugo Chávez Frías - Mother Africa Secondly, I shall express our happiness for being invited to be here. We are grateful and honoured since you have invited Venezuela, a country that is conducting a revolution, a country that got tired of being dominated and exploited by North American empire, a country that has said Stop! We have broken the chains, and so we are building a new project. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is free from all foreign domination!

achieve what Simón Bolívar, the Liberator, called “the universal balance”, a pluripolar world.

Africa has everything to become a pole of power in the 21st century. Latin America and the Caribbean have everything to become another pole of power. They have everything to stop being dependent in the future, to stop being underdeveloped, slaved and colonized. The world accepts many poles. Peoples in the world are rising up. Therefore we show solidarity with the struggle for liberation and dignity in any part of the world.

Our solidarity with Africa, our solidarity with Iran and the struggle for its independence, against imperialistic abuses.

From Venezuela, we bring a message of solidarity with African resistance. Centuries of resistance, since those years when more than 15 million of Africans were taken from here to America, aboard the sadly famous slave ships. Since those tragic years, Africans have been resisting; first, the old colonialism; and now, a new way of colonialism. May Africa receives our word of solidarity and our commitment of being every day even more closer to this continent, in order to search for ways of integration, liberation and development.

Does Iran have the right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, as it is doing? Certainly Iranian people have the right!

Our solidarity with the Palestinian people, once again assaulted. People like ours, people that resist and fight for liberation, for settlement, for freedom and equality.

When those children, invited to this event, sang those beautiful songs and poems, we felt committed with their love, their faith and their hope.

21ST CENTURY: THE CENTURY OF UNION So I believe, mister Chairperson, this century can be the time for the real union, unity for the African peoples, for the Arab peoples, for the Latin American peoples.

TOGETHER DURING THE THIRD WAVE: AFRICA IS NOT POOR Africa is not a poor continent. Africa, as a writer said as he was thinking of Africa and the awakening of that giant, is not poor. How can Africa be poor having oil, diamonds, cobalt, wide forests, all kinds of minerals and, above all, the accumulated, deep and millennial wisdom of its people?

Africa is not poor. It is just that colonialist nations applied brutal methods of exploitation, domination and looting.

From Venezuela we hoist that flag. Latin America is in the way of progress because of union, Latin America is resisting the imperialistic project of the United States. Latin America and the Caribbean have woken up. From Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Venezuela, peoples are rising up. The afro-descendant peoples, indigenous origin peoples, are hoisting again the flag of freedom.

Our Secretary General, Kofi Annan, talked during his wonderful speech about the waves. (Kofi, you talked about waves, three waves. Well, I was taking notes on those waves).

From our point of view, these are waves, brothers; waves, sisters; these are waves, dear Chairperson.

African peoples are also showing this behaviour: they woke up, and their leaders are conducting them through a process that Latin Americans – as I have always said in Latin America- must learn. On the way you took the first step to become, from the Organisation of African Unity, the great experience represented by the African Union. Together, together!

After 300 years of colonialism in America, a wave was unleashed: revolution, of independence for our nations.

This wave started in the 19th century. 19th century was one of independence of the peoples and birth of Latin American and Caribbean republics.

And I will finish by reasons of time, I would not like to abuse, I almost always take advantage of the time.

During 20th century, this wave arrived to Africa.

You, Africans, conducted liberation processes through nationalist, revolutionary and independent movements.

I think now, just like in the 19th century the first wave came to Latin America and the Caribbean; in the 20th century, the second wave came here to Africa, along with the liberation of Africa and the birth of African republics. Now, in the beginning of the 21st century, we must impel the third wave, and, in that third wave, we must be together: Latin America and the Caribbean, along with Africa, brother continents, sharing the same roots, magic, music and hope.

Only together we will be able to change the course of the world. This world is threatened by the North American empire’s hegemony, which intends to get rid of the world.

Only together, from our conscience, our courage, our will, we 25

Hugo Chávez Frías - Mother Africa VENEZUELAN PROPOSALS FOR AFRICA AND THE SOUTH But the Chairperson has been very precise: “a brief greeting.”

Also the Secretary General referred to this in his speech: let’s pass from the words to the facts, in Latin America we are applying this method, since integration and union can not only be built with words and beautiful speeches, we have to dare to build union; and every process of unity affects the imperialistic interests, affects hegemonic interests and affects the interests of foreign companies, which constitute real instruments of colonialism. Latin America progresses.

I would like to propose, and contribute with this idea mister Chairperson, mister Secretary General, friends, fellows, the following: From Venezuela we have designed some ideas that begin to become real, but those ideas are not only for South America nor for Latin America, I think those ideas can be applied in the South world, in Africa, since you are progressing some projects that could be fused.

An example of this is PETROSUR. Let’s create PETROSUR. In Latin America, this experience is being given shape. As you should know, Venezuela has, by reasons of nature, one of the world’s biggest oil reserves.

We got tired of feeding “Count Dracula” with Venezuelan oil, Count Dracula’s fangs looting Venezuelan richness.

Nowadays, Venezuela is free and we have recovered the management of our oil. Oil is a powerful instrument for social development, for education, for health, for employment, for agriculture, for the life of peoples. As oil was used for others to colonize us, now is being used for us to set us free.

Africa has, if I have clear numbers, mister Chairperson, almost 15 percent of world’s oil reserves. Africa has wide oil reserves. I propose to consider the possibility of designating a coordinating instance for study and execution of oil projects. This instance would be designated by the African Union and the South American Union, which we are about to create (soon we will meet Lula and all our South American and Caribbean fellows).

For example, there are, here in Africa, foreign companies which either do not pay oil royalties, or pay very little, five (5) percent or three (3) percent. That is looting! In Venezuela, these companies pay thirty (30) percent as oil royalty by each barrel they lift; and also fifty (50) percent of income tax… And even in that way, those foreign companies earn money! Now Evo has begun to do the same in Bolivia.

26

What good would make the creation of a commission to articulate oil, gas, petrochemical energetic strategy! Africa and Latin America are energetic powers. Let’s put in motion the PETROSUR project and we will experience miracles in the short term. This is about economic independence and the thrust towards development.

Another idea I would like to propose is about the Television Corporation of the South. This already exists in South America, Latin America and the Caribbean, TELESUR. We could link this to Africa. That is the second idea. Specific proposals for making progress, strategic projects for real integration and liberation.

My third proposal to this Assembly is the Bank of the South. I know the African Union has created the African Development Bank, an African financial fund. I consider it is necessary to join efforts between Latin America and Africa and create the Bank of the South. A bank for development, for the poor, for progress. Not a bank to exploit the poor and loot peoples.

PETROSUR, Telesur, Bank of the South and University of the South.

The University of the South, a project for development, for training our young people, for preparation, for integral development, for training physicians, who are so necessary both in Africa and Latin America; for training petroleum engineers, agricultural technicians, so that they can develop irrigation, technology, medicine systems. Simón Bolívar said: “Las naciones marcharán hacia su grandeza al mismo paso con que camine su educación”. (Nations will walk towards greatness at the same pace their education walks) There you have four ideas I have brought to this Assembly, seizing the wonderful opportunity of your invitation.

And finally, these children sing for us to dry the tears of Africa, these children sing for Africa to become the tree of life.

Ali Primera, a Venezuelan singer, said: “llanto con fuego es vapor, vapor con fuego no es na, se va; como lluvia volverá para comenzar la siembra”.

(Crying with fire becomes steam, steam with fire is nothing, it is dissolved; as rain it will come back to start seeding) Let’s dry, with the sacred fire of our conscience, the tears of Africa, the tears of Latin America. With the sacred fire of our courage and country will, so this, along with the sacred fire of love of our peoples and the crying of our centuries, comes back made rain to start the 21st century’s seeding. So Africa can live, so Latin America can live, so Arabia can live, so Iran can live, so the world can live with freedom and equality.

Good afternoon and thank you very much sisters, thank you very much brothers.

28th July 1954

Date of his birth

When I am nolonger there, look for me in the eyes of children, look for me in the eyes of the poor.

Hugo Chรกvez 1954 - 2013

27

PROMOTING SOUTH SOUTH COOPERATION

VENEZUELAN DEPUTY MINISTER FOR AFRICA FULFILLED AN INTENSE AGENDA IN NAIROBI-KENYA. The Deputy Minister for Africa Reinaldo Bolivar visited Nairobi in the framework of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) from 17th to 22nd July 2016.

He fulfilled a busy schedule in various bilateral meetings once he established formal contact with the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Kenya, Ambassador Dr. Monica Juma, to clarify vital aspects of what will be the 2nd Joint Committee to be held in the upcoming months of 2016. The overall situation, political and economic was illustrated in this formal meeting where he explained the smear campaign against Venezuela.

Despite the short time in Nairobi from the 21st to the 23rd, he held a meeting with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments of the United Tanzania, Mr. Charles Mwijage. This contact further served to make the relationship between our governments and people better and take advantage of the South-South cooperation to complement each other. The theme of the summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was discussed once Deputy Minister Bolivar reiterated the invitation to Caracas when Venezuela will assume (September 2016) the presidency of this important multilateral body.

The time despite being short facilitated formal meetings with Prof. Ahmed El Sawalhy, Director of Africa Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) in Nairobi. The bonds of friendship with Venezuela were recalled with this organisation of which we are an observer country.

The Deputy Minister recalled the 10 years (July 2006) since President Chavez made his speech in support of the poles of development between Africa and South America.

28

The occasion was timely to promote rapprochement with the diplomatic corps accredited to Kenya. The first of these meetings with the Venezuelan Deputy Minister on Thursday the 21st was with the High Commissioner of Zimbabwe, H.E. Kelebert Nkomani in his capacity as Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps. They assessed the significant role of NAM, aspects of international law and the South-South cooperation as a historical reference yesterday and today.

The second meeting allowed the rapprochement with H.E. Dr. Hadi Farajvand Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran which currently holds the presidency of NAM and which will transfer it to Venezuela next September.

Finally, in the afternoon of Friday 22nd, having held a working meeting with the national press, the Embassy of Venezuela was the scene of a fraternal meeting. The Deputy Minister Bolivar received from the members of the Network of Friendship KenyaVenezuela solidarity, respect and support for our government, towards our people. More than ten interventions loaded with political effervescence towards our revolution were heard by the distinguished officer.

In response to these interventions the Deputy Minister said ''I have hope after having heard you, that ties are expanding between Kenya and Venezuela, between Africa and Venezuela because of our shared history; our cultural roots (54% of Venezuelans are of African origin) . We still follow the call of President Chavez to get closer to Africa today and still insist on strengthening closer ties in bilateral and multilateral levels to address common problems, common projects.

This alliance within the framework of the South-South cooperation will advance the conquest of more rights for our people, more justice, more social democracy in the world''.

The Deputy Minister left on Saturday 23rd July to Venezuela, with backpacks full of enthusiasm, satisfaction, convinced that the agenda of Venezuela to Africa will increase every day to deepen the long journey to independence and sovereignty.

29

Venezuela will be projected as a must-see Tourist Destination in international fairs

Welcome

V

enezuela will this year be promoted as a destination for international tourism through trade fairs that will take place in Managua, Nicaragua; Tokyo, Japan; London, England; Montreal,Canada; and in Sao Paulo, Brazil; through Venezuelan diplomatic missions in those countries.

"We have a lot to offer tourists and have human qualities. I think Venezuela is and will remain a country of destination and we are working so that we strengthen the presence of foreign tourists here in Venezuela," said Deputy Minister of International Tourism, Ali PadrĂłn, in statements to Venezolana de Television on Tuesday.

He said that the nation last year participated in fairs in Colombia, Cuba, and England; at the International Tourism Fair of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in which Venezuela was the guest country, and this year at the fair in Beijing, China, it won a prize as the most popular stand.

PadrĂłn explained that part of the activities within the Tourism promotion of the Bolivarian Economic Agenda is to strengthen the position of Venezuela as a tourist destination on the basis of its natural characteristics, which are different, and are attractive in the global arena.

30

"Venezuela is a unique country that develops jointly with social inclusion and we have more than 3,500 km of coastline in the Caribbean Sea, savannah, forests, and sand dunes, an important hotel infrastructure and human quality," he said.

He made special mention of the MukumbarĂ­ cableway, inaugurated last April in Merida State by the President of the Republic, Nicolas Maduro, a system which, as noted, shows unique characteristics not only for being the highest and longest in the world, reaching up to 4,768 meters high and more than 12.5 km long, but each of its five stations representing over 70 tourist experiences.

He also cited the Canaima National Park in Bolivar State, one of the country's protected areas, unique in the world as well as the island of Margarita in Nueva Esparta State, which has an important hotel infrastructure, suitable beaches as well of the Venezuelan Llanos and biodiversity, among many other natural attractions. www.avn.info.ve

n o i t i d E y r a s Anniver July 2016 3 1 0 2 y l u J

years spreading the social achievements of the Venezuelan revolution