MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Pleasant meeting with Queen Elizabeth II”

Chilean President Ricardo Lagos met Tuesday morning with Queen Elizabeth II for twenty minutes in Buckingham Palace, but no further details were revealed.

"It was a pleasant, affable meeting", said Chilean First Lady Luisa Duran.

After lunch President Lagos visited Prime Minister Tony Blair at 10 Downing Street and presented with a copy of his book, "The 21st century, a vision from the South", a compendium of the president's speeches, conferences and recent interviews including a prologue from Mr. Blair.

Anybody interested in how values inherited from Socialism can be applied to a XXI century society should read the book wrote Mr. Blair in the prologue adding that at the same time "basic principles of an open market economy have been respected, President Lagos has created social programs with an impressive impact in poverty level reduction, which are now among the lowest in the region".

"Chile is currently recognized as one of the most prosperous and political stable countries in Latinamerica", underlines Mr. Blair praising President Lagos for his efforts in overcoming the divisions of a society deeply marked by "traumas from the past".

After the meeting with Prime Minister Blair and the official launching of his book, President Lagos is scheduled to travel to Madrid for a special reception with the King of Spain