国际英语新闻:Cuban FM warns against "threats" to stability in Latin America, Caribbean

HAVANA, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez warned here on Friday about the severe threats "oligarchical forces" posed to peace, stability and sovereignty of the region.

"The advances in the unity and integration of Latin American and Caribbean states, the strengthening of independence, democracy and social justice in the region, are undeniable. Yet, they are threatened by an imperialist counter-attack and by oligarchical forces who seek to restore the neoliberal order," he said in a speech at the opening of the 7th Summit of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) in Havana.

Rodriguez urged ACS foreign ministers present at the meeting to defy these challenges by building up actions of consultation and cooperation within the ACS.

The ACS should remember the proclamation made during the 2nd Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in 2014 that the region is a zone of peace, he said.

"This was an exemplary and practical guide to ensure unity, harmony, stability, and peace in our region," Rodriguez noted.

Rodriguez also hailed that the ACS had become a "strong association, seeking to continue striving toward development, peace and well-being for our people."

He added that the ACS' Action Plan 2016-2018, which will be debated during the summit, could help the bloc find common positions and solutions to the main problems facing the Caribbean.

"I am certain our debates will allow us to strengthen our consensus concerning the problems we face. This will help deliberations by heads of state and government to find responses to current circumstances and the demands of our people," Rodriguez said.

Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, Colombia's Juan Manuel Santos, Panama's Juan Carlos Varela, Costa Rica's Luis Guillermo Solis, Cuba's Raul Castro are among the prominent figures set to participate in the summit on Saturday.

During the summit, a new secretary general will be elected to replace Colombian diplomat Alfonso Munera who has headed the organization since April 2012.

The ACS was created in July 1994 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, with the aim of promoting consultation, cooperation and concerted action among all the countries of the Caribbean, comprising 25 member states.