The weekly
newsletter VOL. 2: ISSUE. 40, 17th October 2016
Ministry of People’s Bolivarian Government Power for Foreign Affairs of Venezuela 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).
BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA MINISTRY FOR PEOPLE'S POWER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
COMMUNIQUÉ The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, spoke on phone with the new Secretary General of the United Nations, the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Portugal, Mr. Antonio Guterres, to whom he extended, on behalf of the People and the Venezuelan government, his warmest and fraternal congratulations on his election as the Secretary General for the period 2017-2021. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela avails itself of this opportunity to renew, to who will serve as the chief administrative representative of the United Nations, its full commitment and support with the three pillars of the Organization: Peace and Security, Human Rights and Development, as a founding member of this multilateral forum and fierce promoter of strengthening inclusive multilateralism and building a multipolar and multicenteric world, based on solidarity, social justice, complementarity and integration of the people. The Venezuelan government is convinced that Mr. Guterres, to whom it conveys its best wishes, possesses professional credentials, diplomatic skills, and understanding of international politics, to address the pressing challenges currently facing the multilateral system, which suffers from the ravages of unilateralism, violence, terrorism, imperial expansion and the increase in world economic powers. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela takes the opportunity to express to Mr. Guterres its willingness to support his management, not only from Venezuela, but also from the presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), in favor of the interests of the people of the South and building a world where peace and development prevails; for a more just and equal world; a world where the fraternal friendship and solidarity may be a reality to consolidate a multipolar and multicenteric world in harmony with the Universe. Caracas, 13th October, 2016
Inside this Issue!
Pg 1. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Communiqué
Pg 2. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Communiqué
Pg 3. Solidarity with Palestine, Syria and Cuba
Pg 4. Promoting the unknown about Africa
BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA MINISTRY FOR PEOPLE'S POWER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
COMMUNIQUÉ
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela expresses its solidarity with the Argentine people for the unacceptable decision of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to conduct military exercises from the 19th to the 28th October 2016 in the Falkland Islands, which include launching of the ‘Rapier’ Missiles. Such actions violate both International Law and over 40 UN Resolutions and constitute an act of provocation and intimidation by the British government towards the Argentine Nation. The Republic of Argentina is part of a worthy regional bloc declared at the Summit of the CELAC of the 29th January 2014 as a Zone of Peace, which will not allow itself to be intimidated, and it feels like its own this just cause of the Argentine people. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela urges the UK government to comply with the terms contained in the repeated declarations of the United Nations General Assembly, which compel it to negotiate a peaceful and definitive solution to the dispute. In the same way and in accordance with the special statements of the CELAC and the UNASUR, the Venezuelan Government urges the UK government to end the colonial situation of the Falkland Islands and resume the recommended processes by the United Nations. Caracas, 15th October 2016
2
Venezuela in solidarity with Palestine, Syria and Cuba before the imperialist attacks
Palestine
Syria
Cuba
Venezuela welcomes and congratulates the new Secretary General of the UN Concerning the appointment of Antonio Guterres as the new Secretary General of the UN, the Chief of Diplomacy of Peace conveyed the greetings and congratulations of the President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, who on behalf of his government and people, wished him success during his tenure. "The new Secretary will face major challenges such as peace in the world. We know that in the past five centuries the development of violent scenes, and war have increased, the rise of factual powers such as finance, and media are managed without any regulation, neither by the sovereign nor by the multilateral system of the United Nations ", said Delcy Rodríguez.
From the Pro Tempore Presidency of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Venezuela will present concrete proposals to vindicate the legitimate rights of Palestine in the next Assembly to be held at the UN, the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Delcy Rodríguez said on Thursday 13th October.
She said the new Secretary "has all the professional, political and diplomatic skills to address these important challenges present, as is the reality of Syria."
After her meeting with Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Ban Ki-Moon, the Minister declared that "Palestine is a Member State of the NAM and we will request that its fundamental rights are not violated and massacred, the respect of the position it has over the territory which belongs to it.’’
In this context, Foreign Minister Rodriguez said Venezuela has ratified its commitment to accompany the new Secretary General in the search for solutions that allow the respect for international public law, prevalence of the Charter of the United Nations, its principles and purposes.
Concerning the voting process to be submitted to the UN to end the blockade against Cuba, Minister Rodriguez confirmed that Venezuela "sympathizes and supports Cuba. The whole world is clear that this criminal, economic, financial and commercial blockade against Cuba must end, and this is a demand that we have made as the people of the world."
"We are concerned about the humanitarian situation in Syria as a result of the arrogance of Western powers that refuse to respect the legitimate governments, the will of the people. It is the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter being violated," she said.
"Venezuela will stand with the Cuban people, who with dignity have resisted this blockade which has cost lives of hundreds of Cuban citizens who have tried to prevent the development of the nation. On the 26th October we will be here, accompanying and certainly supporting this resolution in favor of the sister nation in the General Assembly," said the Venezuelan diplomat.
In the same vein, Rodriguez reiterated that Venezuela accompanies Russia's position on peace, international law, respect for the legitimate authorities and the will of the Syrian people.
3
www.mre.gob.ve
Promoting the unknown about Africa Queen of Katwe: Uganda’s latest Hollywood production premieres Queen of Katwe, a film about a young Ugandan girl’s rise from unimaginable squalor to global stardom looks poised to do well when it opens in theatres globally. That the production revitalises hope that nothing is beyond achievement if one is firmly focused on changing his or her material conditions is bound to delight viewers. The film is based on the story of the now 20-year-old Ugandan chess player, Phiona Mutesi (brilliantly rendered by Madina Nalwanga in a debut performance). By a stroke of chance, Mutesi stumbles into the game of chess and rises to become an international prodigy. Her success lifts her and her entire family out of abject poverty in Katwe slum, a gateway to Uganda’s capital Kampala. For viewers, especially in East Africa, many aspects of their typical daily grind are well captured and presented — to say nothing of familiar physical backgrounds (the unflattering market environments, for instance). Many a viewer will be pleased to see themselves on this canvas, each according to their station in life. On one hand a young, uneducated but attractive widow (well played by the Kenyan global superstar Lupita Nyong’o) slaves just to keep her four children alive. In one episode, instead of giving in to a friend’s sexual pursuit, she is forced to sell him her only prized possession — a beautiful traditional silk fabric gifted by her mother — in order to buy paraffin so her daughter can afford to burn the midnight oil to perfect her skill.
To be sure, the rags-to-riches, triumph over adversity plot of the two-hour long film is not entirely an unfamiliar one. Yet make no mistake that it is quite unlike any other underdog stories that have preceded it. By a stroke of genius, Mira Nair, its director, ends up rendering multiple stories of accomplishment than the singular one it appears the film set out to tell. She, perhaps more importantly, bestows agency and purpose on her central characters — no matter that the only certainty they know is the uncertainty that marks every part of their lives.
On the other hand is a fresh graduate and family man (superbly delivered by the high-flying BritishNigerian David Oyelowo) who cannot find a job in his engineering field of training, and has to get by with a part-time sports tutoring job. Even when it eventually comes, the righteous mission to offer a leg up to those without hope overwhelms him. A better world is made out of such selflessness.
That the picture absents the ultimate saviour (always white in colour), who swoops in from the West to save some unfortunates trapped backwaters of the so-called Third World, is reassuring. It shows, more than anything else, Ms Nair’s keen awareness of the misunderstandings and misrepresentations that shadow Africa.
On one hand is a highbrow executive (Peter Odeke) who cannot stand the “unwashed” of the slums to play with children of the well-heeled of society he is in charge of. On the other is a full range of humanity: Boda boda riders, roadside food vendors, bricklayers, cart pushers, fishermen, drunkards, sex workers, idlers.
And without belabouring her point, her newest offering — a $15 million Walt Disney production — is another invitation especially to the core Western audience of her pictures to re-examine the ways in which they choose to see the continent and, consequently, the prescriptions they impose on it to improve its fortunes. www.theeastafrican.co.ke
4