VHeadline News Editor Patrick J. O'Donoghue reports: Addressing delegates at the opening of the ALBA meeting in Maracay, President Chavez warned that aggression against any Latin America or Caribbean country will be viewed as aggression against all peoples. Outlining his policy in more graphic terms, Chavez says that "to strike Nicaragua is to strike Venezuela, to strike Ecuador is to strike Venezuela."

The world, Chavez declares, should get used to what is being born here, namely a real unitary fact.

Introducing a new element into his discourse Chavez warns against any country attacking one of the ALBA members militarily but perhaps more importantly, economically, via sanctions or other measures.

President Chavez has welcomed new ALBA members, Ecuador, Antigua & Barbuda and St Vincent & The Grenadines.

Ecuadorian President, Rafael Correa announces that his country will negotiate treaties for the development of peoples after the tremendous failure of the US-sponsored Free Trade for the Americas (FTAA). Correa maintains that ALBA is proof of a new world that is independent and seeking integration without outside tutorship and intervention.

Venezuela Energy & Petroleum Minister, Rafael Ramirez has told member countries that Venezuela will continue to guarantee them oil and petroleum product supplies after an excellent results and earnings in 2008.