President Leonel Fern?ndez and President-elect of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez were not able to meet in Paris as planned. The logistics of the agendas of the two did not allow for the encounter. The meeting had originally been planned to take place in Santo Domingo, 8-9 January, but was later postponed for a meeting in Paris, where both expected to coincide. They would discuss future bilateral agreements that would be signed. President Fern?ndez is scheduled to travel to Caracas, Venezuela on 1 February to attend the inaugural of President -elect Chavez. The former Venezuelan colonel has publicly expressed that Fern?ndez be his liaison with the rest of the Caribbean. Chavez had already traveled to the DR in 1998 during the days he was campaigning for President. He is invited in April to participate in the summit of the Association of Caribbean States where 26 heads of state of Central America, Latin America and the Caribbean will attend. While not members of the ACS, presidents Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico and Andr?s Pastrana of Colombia have confirmed their participation.
