Brussels, June 10 (RHC)-- Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa has demanded an end to Washington's blockade against Cuba and the lifting of sanctions against Venezuela.

In his opening remarks at the 2nd Summit between the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union (EU) in Brussels, Correa -- whose country holds the CELAC rotating presidency -- condemned the imposition of unilateral sanctions against countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and demanded respect for the self-determination and sovereignty of regional nations.

Correa stressed that CELAC works on five fundamental aspects -- to reduce poverty, preserve the environment and improve access to education, science and technology for the more than 600 million inhabitants of the 33 countries making up the regional bloc.