CLACSO welcomes Argentina's appointment to head CELAC

CLACSO welcomes the designation of the Argentine Republic to head the Pro Tempore Presidency of CELAC as well as the fundamental role played to date by Mexico in the revitalization of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.

This was determined by the XXII Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the group, held in Buenos Aires on January 7, 2022.

During his speech, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, offered a report on the achievements of his country's Pro Tempore Presidency during the biennium 2020-2021, highlighting the revitalization of CELAC as the most important mechanism for dialogue and political agreement in the region, as well as the articulation of the regional health strategy against COVID-19, and the establishment of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE).

The closing remarks of the ministerial meeting were delivered by the President of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, who expressed his gratitude for his appointment as Pro Tempore President of CELAC for 2022. He stated that “CELAC was not created to oppose anyone, nor to interfere in the political life of any country. It was created to defend ourselves.”

Fernández added: “We are very concerned about climate change, especially in our insular America and the Caribbean,” and concluded by assuring that “there are no limits to integration, we will rely on consensus and there will be respect for diversity.”

Brazil was absent from the deliberations of the foreign ministers of 32 of the 33 countries that make up this regional forum, having decided to exclude itself since Jair Bolsonaro assumed the presidency and did not send any delegates.