“We have great expectations that this meeting will open a new phase of construction and promotion of peace, at a time when the world is facing serious problems that put all of humanity at risk,” he told Prensa Latina.

Baptista, who represents the Mexican Movement for Peace and Development (MOMPADE), said that the WPC, a space for dialogue and action established after World War II, has made notable contributions in this area.

“Now more than ever we need a world with peace, but where there is also solidarity with those peoples, such as Cuba and Venezuela, who are being affected by the hegemonic pretensions of the United States,” he stressed.

The representative of MOMPADE also deplored the economic misfortune into which the United States has plunged Europe by unleashing a war (between Russia and Ukraine) “that nobody needs.”

In relation to the venue for the Assembly, which is meeting again after a six-year hiatus, Gonzalez said he felt honored to be in Vietnam, whose people he cataloged as an example for the world in defense of freedom and sovereignty.

On its second day of work, the Assembly will listen to and debate regional, financial and organizational reports, among others.

The discussion and adoption of a Political Declaration is scheduled for tomorrow, as well as the election of the 40 members of the new Executive Committee, which will be in charge of appointing the president and secretary of the organization, and on Friday the Hanoi Peace Conference will meet, with discussions to be held in four panels.

jrr/llp/oda/mpm