MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Lula wants to host South American “retreat” summit

Lula also insisted it was imperative that South America be regarded as a region of peace and cooperation

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva has been reported to be planning a major Summit in the form of a retreat in Brasilia on May 30 and is sending letters of invitation to his South American colleagues to relaunch the South American Union of Nations (Unasur), as per an O Globo article.

The “retreat” format would entail fewer formalities, restricted delegations, and more intimacy for conversations among the region's heads of state, the newspaper explained.

Since Lula's return to power, Brazil has rejoined Unasur and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac).

In his letter, Lula defends the need to “revitalize integration in South America, calls for differences to be put aside in the name of a common destiny, speaks of the need to cooperate on defense, health, and infrastructure, among other issues, mentions the geopolitical challenges of today's world, the importance of seeking collective solutions and repositioning South America as a player on the global chessboard,” reported O Globo.

Lula also insisted it was imperative that South America be regarded as a region of peace and cooperation, and called for everyone to sit down at the table and dialogue with transparency and a constructive spirit.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro received the invitation personally from Lula's special advisor on international affairs, former foreign minister Celso Amorim, while Uruguay's President has confirmed he will be attending the gathering, Montevideo's Foreign Minister Francisco Bustillo said in a press conference.

The invitation will also be sent to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, it was reported.

Unasur was created in 2008 to promote regional integration in the areas of energy, education, health, environment, infrastructure, security, and democracy.