July 17, Tuesday
Peruvian Government: Symbolic or not, ALBA means meddling
The Peruvian government upheld that the establishment of an office of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) in southeast Peru was considered as meddling and countered the remarks made by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, who called it "something symbolic."

"Whether symbolic or not, it is meddling. In this way, with a little bit of sand, a beach is being formed. Afterwards they will get the beachhead and then will enter the country," Cabinet Head Jorge del Castillo said during an interview with CPN radio, as quoted by AP.

According to Del Castillo, this was the case of Nicaragua and, presumably, there was a similar attempt in Colombia.

ALBA is sponsored by the Venezuelan government and composed of Cuba, Bolivia and Nicaragua.

Humala advocates ALBA office in Peru
Former Peruvian presidential candidate Ollanta Humala rejected claims that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is meddling in Peruvian domestic affairs, and rather advocate an office of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) in Puno, over the border with Bolivia, Peruvian media reported.

"ALBA should not be rejected, and I do believe the Peruvian government should ponder joining this space of international cooperation," Humala said.

According to Humala, the ALBA is good economic choice, as Peru is engaged with the United States in a Free Trade Agreement. "Having spaces to make people in our country know the ALBA would be positive," said Humala, according to Perú21.com.

Peruvian officials have rejected the ALBA office opened in Puno.

Abridged periods for ALBA projects
In order to assess progress of projects in each member country, the First Meeting of the Technical Committees of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of the Americas (ALBA) and the People's Trade Agreement was opened July 16 in Caracas.

Over 200 representatives of the four member countries of ALBA, namely Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Venezuela took part in the act.

During the opening ceremony, Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicolás Maduro Moros reminded it was very important to shorten the time to implement the projects Latin American peoples need so much.

"Our peoples depend on the success of this integration mechanism. We must therefore abide by a strict time schedule with concrete goals allowing us to consolidate projects."

July 18, Wednesday
"Symbolic" presence of ALBA ignites divergences in Peru
Peruvian Minister of Foreign Affairs José García Belaúnde hailed President Hugo Chávez' remarks on July 16 that Venezuela is not interfering with Peruvian domestic affairs, but Peruvian Premier Jorge del Castillo insisted that Venezuela is actually meddling in Peru's affairs, AFP reported.

The alleged Venezuelan intervention -an issue that has ignited divergent statements by García Belaúnde and del Castillo- relates to the opening in the Peruvian southern region of Puno of an office of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), boosted by Caracas. Chávez has branded the office as "something merely symbolic, for the time being."

"Whether symbolic or not, it is meddling. In this way, with a little bit of sand, a beach is being formed. Afterwards they will get the beachhead and then will enter the country," del Castillo said during an interview with CPN radio, as quoted by AP.

On the contrary, García Belaúnde replied to Chávez remarks by telling daily newspaper Expreso: "I have read President Chávez' declarations and believe we have to welcome his words with satisfaction that there are clear boundaries as to the scope of ALBA and its member countries," AFP quoted.

Five Cuba-Venezuela farming joint ventures under ALBA
Venezuela and Cuba moved to reinforce cooperation in the farming and cattle-raising sector by organizing, through a presidential decree, five joint ventures in the areas of wood, milk, fowls, rice, and legumes.

According to the Official Gazette 38726, "Socialist Joint Ventures of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas S.A." were organized for each of the above sectors between the Venezuelan Agrarian Corporation (CVA) -attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands- and four Cuban companies.

The presidential decree states that, within the framework of the agreements, and cooperation under ALBA, the Cuban Republic is contributing both expertise and technology to the newly created joint ventures.

The Venezuelan government is contributing USD 63,824 for such joint ventures, or some USD 12,700 for a 51 percent stake in each one of the five companies.

July 20, Friday
President Chávez wants Central America to join ALBA
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez invited Central American nations to enroll "with no fear" in the Bolivarian Alternative of the Americas (ALBA), because "it is the way to consolidate a true Latin American unity."
 
The head of state made the invitation during his remarks to the Nicaraguan media, accompanied by his Nicaraguan counterpart Daniel Ortega, during the commemoration of the 28th anniversary of the triumph of the Sandinista revolution, reported official news agency ABN.

He noted that the integration tool is based on complementation and cooperation, and instrumental in the new era.
 
The head of state emphasized that the participation of President Martín Torrijos, of Panama, and Manuel Zelaya, of Honduras, in the event held in Managua, the Nicaraguan capital city, was "a very strong indication of Central American unity entering a new stage."
 
Chávez thinks that countries are getting closer to ALBA, because during the Summit of Central America and Mexico held in Honduras in June, these nations acknowledged the significance of such an initiative for integration.

President Chávez' followers open six ALBA branches in Peru
Peruvian organized groups favoring the government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez opened six offices of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) both in Lima and the province, reported the local press.

Peruvian daily newspaper La República noted that the agencies started operations in the urban districts of Callao, Santa Rosa and Los Olivos, as well as in the Andean regions of Junín, Huancavelica and Puno, Efe quoted.

ALBA representative in Santa Rosa Fernando Alvarado told La República that the office was established one month and a half ago, to take care of extremely poor people with vision disorders and provide training on leadership for small businesses.

Alvarado, also a district leader for Partido Nacionalista Peruano (PNP), explained that the Santa Rosa office was aimed at "improving the friendship ties with Venezuela and getting access to the humanitarian people's network Mission Miracle," an initiative of Cuba and Venezuela.

"We do not receive money or have political purposes," Alvaro maintained, and explained that the office is set to act as liaison between the patients and the Venezuelan embassy for health care.

Peruvian PM suspicious of Venezuela's meddling
Any evidence of interference in Peruvian internal affairs by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez can be hardly found, but there is meddling indeed as part of "a whole strategic hemispheric move," said Peruvian Prime Minister Jorge del Castillo.

"It is very difficult. One cannot say, 'here the evidence goes.' However, something really is going on, particularly strong suspicion of funding some people or political parties," he declared on a radio show hosted by journalist César Hildebrandt, as quoted by AFP.

The Premier has maintained that there is interference by the Venezuelan head of state in Peruvian internal affairs through an office of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), powered by the Venezuelan government, in the south Andean region of Puno, on the border with Bolivia.