MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Twenty leaders confirmed for the IberoAmerican summit

“Social cohesion” will be the main issue of the Summit said Mr. Foxley

Twenty leaders of Ibero-America will be participating in the coming XVII Ibero-American summit scheduled for next November 8/10 in Santiago announced Chilean Foreign Secretary Alejandro Foxley on Tuesday.

"So far we have twenty heads of state confirmed, including Venezuela's Hugo Chavez", said Foxely who refused to give further names because of possible last minute cancels. "The summit has had an extraordinary support, and regional leaders have shown a special interest in the main issue of this meeting, social cohesion", said Foxley recalling that the proposal was done by Chilean president and summit host, Michele Bachelet. "We won't have in our countries stable democracies or sustained growth if we are not capable of solving the issue of social cohesion and reducing inequalities". "The idea is to be convergent in the way we address government policies, particularly social policies, so we can achieve a less unequal Latinamerica and a convergence in the ways to develop our societies and resources", underlined Foxley who declared himself "optimistic" about the results of the coming event. In that context Foxley underlined that Spain and Portugal (participants of the summit) and other European countries have shown that "it's possible" to build dynamic, forward looking societies committed to growth and less inequality. The example of Spain and Portugal is relevant for Latinamerica. "Only 30 years ago those countries were in the periphery of Europe and today we see them in the heart of the European construction", he underlined. Foxley pointed out that Spain has been the fastest growing economy in Europe in the last few years and Portugal currently chairs the EU until the end of the year. "This is an example of a possible road to follow in the coming 15 to 20 years to reach an equivalent level of development". Some of the documents to subscribe during the summit include a Plan of Action, a Social Security Agreement and the creation of an Observatory on social inequality issues, plus cooperation in fields such as education and tourism. Parallel to the summit a special forum on "Social cohesion and economic development" has been scheduled with the purpose of an improved social dialogue. To make the summit more "popular" and closer to the people Foxley said that "Cultural embassies" from thirteen different countries have been announced. They will display music, songs, dance and folklore from different country members. Finally although Foxley did not mention it, --the Santiago press did--, Venezuela's Chavez, Bolivia's Evo Morales and Ecuador's Rafael Correa will be the main speakers at a side gathering of social organizations and left wing movements. When asked about the event, Foxley said all necessary steps will be taken to ensure "all happens and evolves in a civilized manner with no violence".