President Alberto Fernández led the opening of the VII Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States on Tuesday, as pro tempore president of the regional body, the day after Nicolás Maduro announced that he would not come to the country, questioned by allegations of violations to human rights, like his counterparts from Cuba and Nicaragua, Miguel Díaz-Canel -present in Buenos Aires- and Daniel Ortega.
"We believe in democracy and democracy is definitely at risk. After the pandemic we have seen ultra-right sectors standing up and threatening each of our peoples, we cannot allow that recalcitrant and fascist right to put the security of our people at risk towns," he said.
The sessions have the confirmed presence of more than 15 leaders, among whom, in addition to the host president, Alberto Fernández, are Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Brazil), Gustavo Petro (Colombia), Gabriel Boric (Chile), Luis Arce ( Bolivia), Xiomara Castro (Honduras), Mia Mottley (Barbados), Mario Abdo Benítez (Paraguay), Luis Lacalle Pou (Uruguay) and Miguel Díaz-Canel (Cuba).
The forum began at 10 o'clock and after the words of the president it was the turn of the presentation of Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero, who reviewed the work carried out by the Pro Tempore Presidency (PPT) of Argentina throughout 2022.
The Argentine foreign minister received on Tuesday those attending Celac, which is taking place in Buenos Aires amid strict security measures.
The surroundings of the Sheraton hotel, located in the capital's Retiro neighborhood, where the conclave is held, are closed with fences that prevent passers-by from approaching the location where there will be more than 15 presidents of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The front of the hotel is especially reinforced, since several protest rallies are planned, on the one hand, against the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, who will not finally be in Buenos Aires, and on the other, against the government of Dina Boluarte -also absent- in Peru.
The return of Brazil to Celac at the hands of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, after his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, decided to leave the forum in 2020 is the highlight of this summit.
News in development.
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