The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People''s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) agreed in Cuba to strengthen the network of universities in countries of that integration mechanism.

The initiative is part of other agreements to boost cooperation in health, education, culture, work, and sport.

During the 4th Ministerial Council of the Social Area, held yesterday at the Havana's Hotel Nacional, participants also ratified the recognition of certificates and diplomas of the bloc, and confirmed Cuba as a venue of the 5th ALBA Education Workshop, to be held here this year's second half.

In the area of health, the Council proposed concrete actions to carry out disability studies in the ALBA countries, especially in Dominica, and Antigua and Barbuda.

The meeting also established the promotion of actions with proven impact actions that encourage the development of cultural processes and social transformation, focusing on efforts and resources on those tasks of great impact.

In the closing ceremony of the meeting, the delegations from Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Venezuela, members of the bloc, also supported the Bolivian government's efforts to defeat destabilizing plans.

In addition, the ALBA's Council of the Social Area paid tribute to late President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez, one of the promoters of this Alliance, along with the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro.

Also in the context of the 4th Meeting, Cubans Prima Ballerina Assoluta Alicia Alonso received the 2012 ALBA Arts Award, for her work life, by Cuban First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel.