Presidents Ricardo Lagos of Chile and Hipolito Mejia inaugurated the Santo Domingo Book Fair yesterday. "Culture always needs to be a foremost concern," said President Lagos in his opening speech. "It is an essential mechanism for our societies to be in touch with their inner selves." President Lagos spoke after Minister of Culture Tony Raful and President Hipolito Mejia. President Lagos visited here for 26 hours. During his stay he signed a joint statement with President Mejia committing to support joint cooperation programs for the economy, commerce, travel, farming, mining, defense, culture and politics. Ministers of Foreign Relations Hugo Tolentino Dipp and Maria Soledad Alvaear Valenzuela of Chile signed the agreements. President Lagos invited President Mejia to visit Chile. In addition to the formal agenda, President Lagos took time to visit the tomb of former PRD leader, Jose Francisco Peña Gomez and met with Juan Luis Guerra, the legendary contemporary merengue and bachata composer, at the Bachata Rosa bar/restaurant in the colonial city. President Mejia decorated President Lagos with the Duarte, Sanchez and Mella medal, Great Cross of Gold, the highest rank. President Lagos decorated President Mejia with the Order of Merit of Chile, Grand Collar rank. (24 April 2001)
