[R-G] European conference on Venezuela backs radical social reforms

[Anthony Fenton]

European conference on Venezuela backs radical social reforms

http://21stcenturysocialism.com/article/ 
european_conference_on_venezuela_backs_radical_social_reforms_01571.html

Over two hundred delegates from 12 European countries met at a  
conference in London on Saturday 10 November to support democracy and  
social progress in Venezuela.

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.

Temir Porras, Chief of Staff of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry,  
speaking at the conference
A strong delegation of Venezuelan MPs, the Venezuelan Ambassadors to  
the European Union, London and Paris, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry  
and representatives of social movements explained the most important  
developments in Venezuela today.

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.

Keli Silva, Community Council President of the Wayu indigenous community
The conference, which was was organised by the Venezuela Information  
Centre, Labour Friends of Venezuela, Le Monde Diplomatique and  
Memoires des Luttes, established a European standing committee to  
support democracy and social progress in Venezuela and pledged to  
meet again next year.

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.