MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chavez in Columbia University forum

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez will be one of the star participants of a forum of world leaders organized by Columbia University next September 19.

Besides Mr. Chavez eight other leaders from Iraq, Pakistan, Rwanda, Indonesia, Finland, Georgia, Serbia, Poland and Sierra Leone will be addressing the issue "Global Development" and other "issues which are normally left out of more formal meetings", according to University officials.

The starting point will be the leaders' opinion of the United Nations Millennium objectives, with each country giving their own "development experience and agenda", said Lisa Anderson, Dean of the International Relations School.

"For some of the leaders pos-conflict reconciliation is the priority; for others ending infant mortality. But others are still in the process of democratization as the first great step forward to development", added Ms. Anderson.

The conference will be open to all Columbia University students and academia, plus special guests.