Caracas, July 8 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro unveiled a monument dedicated to his predecessor, late President Hugo Chavez, on Tuesday to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the former president's graduation from the military academy.

"(Chavez) is stronger than ever and 40 years after his graduation we unveil this reminder that must be eternal for all generations of men and women who train in this academy, they must be like Chavez, they must be Bolivarian, patriots, anti-imperialist, revolutionaries and socialists,” said Maduro.

The unveiling activity was part of a graduation ceremony for new military officials. President Maduro also named new commanders for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and National Bolivarian Militia, which constitute four out of the five branches of the Venezuelan armed forces.

In a statement, the Venezuelan Minister of Defense Vladimir Padrino Lopez reiterated the support of the armed forces to Maduro in Venezuela's ongoing maritime dispute with Colombia and Guyana.

In a decree signed July 6, 2015, Maduro repealed an earlier decree relating to Venezuela's claims over maritime limits. The decision by the Venezuelan head of state was welcomed by the Colombian government. President Maduro announced the creation of a Presidential Commission to resolve the dispute with Colombia.

The dispute with Guyana is ongoing, after the Guyanese President David A. Granger made statements that Maduro classified as “inciting and highly offensive” to Venezuelans.