Maduro: We are making Bolívar's dream true

Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicolás Maduro said on Thursday at the National Assembly during the commemoration of the 201st anniversary of the Declaration of Independence that "we should be ashamed of the way they divided us or the way we let them divide us." Reference was made to the "Monroe doctrine" which, according to him, was imposed on the American nations to minimize their capacity to maneuver.

Maduro said that after the coup of April 2002, the Venezuelan government launched "a constructive offensive to bring about the Liberator's project of Latin American unity."

He added that during the process, they have had "the privilege of being the pupils of Commander Hugo Chávez."

"Commander Chávez: Today we can tell the Liberator (Simón Bolívar) that under your leadership our country has regained its independence."

"Venezuela will never again be anyone's colony, there will be no submissive oligarchy," said Maduro.

Then President Chávez congratulated Maduro for his address and for his work as foreign minister.

The president said that in Venezuela there is a force that did not exist before to repel any internal or external aggression "aimed at disrespecting the mandate of the Constitution."

"Today is Independence Day, the day of my people and my dear soldiers of the Armed Force," said Chávez.