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November 2007
European conference on Venezuela backs radical social reforms
Delegates included members of the European Parliament, national parliaments, mayors, trade union leaders and representatives of social movements from Belgium, Britain, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Representatives from the UK included Members of Parliament George Galloway, Dianne Abbot and Jeremy Corbyn, Deputy General Secretary of Unison
Keith Sonnett, and Gemma Tumelty, President of the National Union of Students.
Delegates issued a statement backing the radical social reforms which have transformed the lives of millions of Venezuelans, noting the fact that Venezuela has held more democratic elections than virtually any other country in the world in the last eight years and calling upon European governments to respect the outcome of the forthcoming referendum on constitutional reform in December this year.
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Temir Porras, Chief of Staff of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, speaking at the conference |
The conference, said to be the most broad based meeting on Venezuela ever held in Europe, was opened by Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London.
Mr Livingstone said:
The breadth of representation at this conference is a sign of the extraordinary impact which President Chavez’ programme of radical social and democratic reform is having throughout the world.
Anyone who suggests there is any kind of authoritarianism in Venezuela should just go to see the Venezuela Youth Orchestras which have turned hundreds of thousands of young people from the shanty towns into the most exciting classical music movement in the world today.
As we meet Venezuela is debating a new series of constitutional reforms to strengthen democratic participation. I particularly welcome plans to transform the capital, Caracas.’
As part of London’s co-operation agreement with Venezuela, we put our own experience at the disposal of those seeking to improve the quality of life in Caracas and other Venezuelan cities.’
Today’s conference is a great opportunity for people across Europe to work together to build stronger links with the people of Venezuela and to explain the enormous progress they are making in improving life in their country.
Temir Porras, Chief of Staff to the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry said:
The conference was a qualitative leap forward in relations between the people of Venezuelan and Europe. It will be a big help to Venezuela’s goal of building international relation based on principles of solidarity and mutual respect.
The conference identified many areas where Europeans can work together to develop links with Venezuela – through cooperation agreements with cities and regions, debates in the European and national parliaments, fact-finding delegations to visit Venezuela and exchanges of experiences between groups including trade unions, ethnic minorities, students movements and lesbian and gay groups.
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Keli Silva, Community Council President of the Wayu indigenous community |
This is the statement issued at the conference:
Support for social progress and democracy in Venezuela
We believe that the lives of millions of Venezuelans have been transformed by the progressive social and democratic policies of Hugo Chávez’s government.
Extreme poverty has been halved, illiteracy nearly eliminated, participation in education has more than doubled and free basic health care extended to nearly 20 million people, who had no access before. Unemployment has fallen to an historic low.
The constitution introduced by President Chavez, approved by Venezuelans in a popular referendum, is one of the most democratic in the world and enshrines rights of previously excluded and minority groups. An emphasis on social inclusion has improved the position of women and Venezuela’s black, mixed-race and indigenous majority.
Venezuela’s government has directly promoted participatory democracy through community councils, urban land committees and other local bodies.
President Chavez’ sweeping social, political and economic agenda, has been endorsed by Venezuelans in 11 democratic elections that have been consistently judged free and fair by international observers. On 2 December the Venezuelan people will once again be called on to vote, on a series of reforms to the 1999 constitution proposed by President Chavez.
Venezuela is one of the few countries in the world where both the constitution, and any revisions to it, must be approved by a majority of citizens in a national referendum. We call on the international community to respect the outcome of the coming referendum and support the sovereign and democratic right of the Venezuelan people to self-determination.