Caracas, September 11 (RHC) -- Ambassadors of nine signatory countries to the trade accord within the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA-TCP) are meeting in Caracas to celebrate the successful cooperation of the bloc during its ten years of existence.

The work towards developing regional policies to meet the social debt to the peoples through solidarity and cooperation was highlighted by the ALBA representatives.

Bernardo Álvarez, ALBA Executive Secretary, emphasised that the group's efforts have been undertaken "with total respect for the sovereignty and self-determination" of the member states.

The progress in cultural, educational, communicative, political, economic and social integration of social movements was highlighted in a document entitled "Ten Years Consolidating Solidarity and Integration Among the Peoples of Our America."

The 2004-2014 Management Report presented by Alvarez describes the activities to commemorate the bloc's tenth anniversary, with a UN Forum "Ten Years of the ALBA-TCP" to be held on September 27th.  The activity will be part of the 69th session of the General Assembly in New York.

Another activity called the "International Week of ALBA" includes exhibitions and talks and forums in communities, towns and provinces of the nine member countries.

ALBA was created in Havana, on December 14, 2004 by the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, and was the precursor to the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).

The integrationist organization also includes Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Dominica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.