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In the midst of absences and fear of protests, the Celac summit began in Buenos Aires

2023-01-24T13:38:58.890Z


The leaders of the 33 nations of the Latin American and Caribbean bloc meet at the Sheraton hotel. They were received by Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero. Lula da Silva, one of the protagonists.


In the midst of

a tight security operation

, heads of state and government of the region began to parade from 9 in the morning, this Tuesday, at the Sheraton hotel in Buenos Aires to participate in the VII Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), which promises

some ideological clashes

and a handful of trade and cooperation agreements.

Despite

notable absences,

such as that of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who canceled his trip at the last minute and sent his foreign minister Yván Gil Pinto as representative, an intense day of debates and some ideological friction is expected, with criticism of Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba for the repression of dissident voices in their countries.

The leader of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, nor that of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, will not be there.

Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard also arrived in his place.

Another absentee is Guillermo Lasso, president of Ecuador,

in conflict with the government of Alberto Fernández

since a former official of the government of Rafael Correa accused of corruption took refuge in the Argentine embassy in Quito. 

Another big mistake is that of Dina Boluarte, president of Peru, involved in a deep political crisis in her country, with violent demonstrations for more than a month and a half, after the dismissal of Pedro Castillo in December.

Cafiero, with Jamaican Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson-Smith.

Photo: Luis Robayo / AFP

Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero began receiving the leaders at 9 in the morning who, according to plans, will hold a series of discussions behind closed doors

throughout the day .

The official opening is in charge of President Alberto Fernández, who holds the pro tempore presidency of the 33-nation bloc.

Lula, central figure


One of the central figures of this summit will be the president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who returned to power for the third time and marked the re-entry of his country to CELAC, after the slamming of the door by his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, who He

was from the block in 2019.

The president arrived with his wife

, Rosángela Da Silva, Janja, minutes after 10.

Also here is the president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, who will surely face harsh criticism for the repression of dissent in his country, especially during the 2021 anti-government protests.

Alberto Fernández receives the premier of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Photo: Reuters

Among those who were entering,

amid fences and police cordons

, were the presidents of Chile, Gabriel Boric, of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou, and of Paraguay, Mario Abdo Benítez.

Among the main points on the discussion agenda are the consolidation of the region as a space for unity in diversity and its integration with higher levels of inclusion and development.

Outside the hotel, a huge operation with street closures and several police fences tries to control the protests that are announced for the day.

Although the tension seems to have dropped after the announcement that the Venezuelan Maduro will finally not come, after denouncing plans "of the neo-fascist right" to attack the Venezuelan delegation.

look also

"He was afraid": Mauricio Macri's message after the suspension of Nicolás Maduro's trip to Argentina

Gestures of leadership, of alliance with a view to the future, and nods to Alberto Fernández in the visit of Lula da Silva

Source: clarin

All news articles on 2023-01-24

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