Alexandra Pou of the Ministry of Foreign Relations revealed details on the social program of the complex organization of the upcoming II African, Caribbean and Pacific Summit of Heads of State and Government that will be held in Santo Domingo this 25-26 November in an interview today in the Listín Diario newspaper. The Ministry of Foreign Relations is in charge of preparing the event that is considered the summit that will gather the most heads of state ever held in the Americas. Pou says young decorators José Luis Arbaje, Liddy Guerrero, Fidel López, Expedito Jiménez and Teresa Brea have been contracted. Master chef Mike Mercedes will be in charge of the Dominican cuisine extravaganza that will be served at the Club of the Armed Forces for the visiting heads of state. Carlos Torres was chosen to prepare the Dominican buffet at the Central Bank club. And Virginia Schiffino, another specialist in Dominican food, will be preparing the snacks for the activity planned for the San Francisco Monastery in the Colonial City. Teresa de Santos will be preparing the international gourmet dinner at the National Palace. Some 6,000 people are being accredited for the summit. Over 50 heads of state and government are expected, as well as high-ranking officers of European Union nations, and directors of multilateral organizations. The Summit’s work sessions will take place at the club of officers of the Ministry of Armed Forces, which has been enhanced at a published cost of RD$30 million. The difficulty has been in providing for the multiple cultures of the visitors. For example, an area where Muslims can pray has been set aside. Pou says that there will be two folklore presentations where African, Caribbean and Pacific performers perform together at the Fortaleza Ozama. On 26 November the presentation for the visiting statesmen will take place. A 27 November presentation will be for Dominican audiences. She also said, a handicraft fair is open at the adjacent Casa de Bastidas and it will last through 27 November. The official program for the event is available at the ACP website at http://www.acpsec.org/gb/summit2/prog_e.htm An overview of the event was included in yesterday’s news at http://www.dr1.com/daily/news111899.shtml
