Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina (right) and Vice Foreign Minister Gerardo Torres. Photo: Screenshot/Telesur.
Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina highlighted the significance of his country’s leadership of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and announced that Honduras will hand over the Pro Tempore Presidency (PPT) of this intergovernmental mechanism to Colombia during the IX Summit of Heads of State and Government, to be held on April 9 in Tegucigalpa.
During a press conference on Tuesday, the diplomat announced that the high-level summit will take place at the headquarters of the Central Bank of Honduras, starting at 8:00 a.m. local time.
Together with Deputy Foreign Minister Gerardo Torres, they detailed that the Foreign Ministers’ meeting will be held on April 8, paving the way for the summit on the 9th, which will be led by President Xiomara Castro. “At this time, we are still receiving participation confirmations,” they said.
Reina described this IX Summit as a highly significant event that will have very positive impacts in determining joint positions on issues such as regional integration and upholding the principle of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace.
The agenda includes the approval of the Tegucigalpa Declaration – which will guide the political and integration efforts of Latin America and the Caribbean – as well as two special statements, and the handover of the Pro Tempore Presidency (PPT) to Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
Revitalization of CELAC
Foreign Minister Reina summarized the work of President Xiomara Castro’s government in leading the regional bloc. He emphasized that Honduras promoted regional integration and unity, focusing on building common understandings and shared positions. The country continued the revitalization efforts for CELAC initiated by Mexico and advanced by Argentina, particularly in the post-pandemic recovery period and amid other global challenges.
Reina stressed that migration remains a critical issue. During Honduras’ leadership, a meeting was convened with 12 member states to address this challenge, particularly in response to the mass deportations and human rights violations committed against Latin American migrants by the Trump administration.
He recalled that Venezuela formally requested attention to the alleged kidnapping of its migrants by the Salvadoran government. Reina stated that all member countries would have the opportunity to propose similar issues for inclusion in the agenda by consensus.
Under Honduras’ leadership, CELAC held summits on agriculture, energy, food security, women’s empowerment, and social development. The bloc also established dialogue platforms with China, India, Türkiye, the European Union, the African Union, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Reina noted that CELAC effectively addressed pressing issues, including Haiti’s multidimensional crisis and Ecuador’s violation of Mexican sovereignty following the April 5, 2024 security forces incursion into Mexico’s embassy in Quito. The bloc also strongly condemned the Zionist genocide in Palestine.
According to Reina, Honduras regained its dignity during these months under President Castro’s Democratic Socialism government. He recalled that former President Juan Orlando Hernández (2014-2022, currently imprisoned on drug trafficking charges among others) had previously attempted but failed to assume CELAC’s leadership.
Additionally, Deputy Foreign Minister Gerardo Torres announced that during the IX Summit, 2,000 youth from all 33 CELAC member states will graduate from the first 5G Internet and ICT scholarship program. This initiative results from a concrete partnership with telecommunications company Huawei.
(Telesur)
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SH
