Maduro reads message sent by President Chávez to Celac

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez on Monday sent a letter signed of his own handwriting in red ink to the Latin American and Caribbean leaders gathered at the Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), taking place in Chile, in which he welcomed the fact that Cuba is taking over the chair of the regional bloc.

In the message, read by Vice-President Nicolás Maduro, Chavez asserted that Cuba's presidency means that "Latin America and the Caribbean are telling the United States in one single voice that all attempts to isolate Cuba have and will fail," AFP quoted.

"We are committed to give our full support to Cuba, which holds the pro tempore chair of the community as of the Summit of Santiago. This is an act of justice after more than 50 years of resistance to the imperial criminal blockade," Chávez said in his letter.

Comprising 33 countries, Celac was established in December 2011 in Caracas under the aegis of Chávez, who is convalescent in Cuba since December 11, after his fourth operation for cancer.