Preparations for the V CELAC Summit of Heads of State and Government are underway in Punta Cana. The heads of states and governments of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) will be meeting in Punta Cana from 24-25 January 2017. CELAC is a regional inter-governmental organization that promotes integration and development of Latin American and Caribbean states.
During the meeting, the temporary presidency of the regional block that the Dominican Republic has held for the past two years will be passed to El Salvador.
Prior to the start of the regional event, technical teams from 33 countries are participating in the 20th Meeting of CELAC National Coordinators at the Barceló Bávaro Convention Center in Punta Cana, site of the meetings. The staff is meeting prior to the gathering of the 13th meeting of the ministers of foreign relations on Tuesday, 24 January. Some 30 foreign ministers have confirmed their participation. Both meetings are preparatory sessions held prior to the summit of heads of government and state on Wednesday, 25 January.
The Ministry of Foreign Relations (Mirex) of the Dominican Republic is the organizer of the event. Hugo Beras, spokesman for Mirex, said the 2017 summit would be the most attended by CELAC in its history in regards to attendance by heads of government and state. Among the statesmen confirmed for the meeting are: Michelle Bachelet, Chile; Raúl Castro Ruz, Cuba; Salvador Sánchez Cerén, El Salvador; Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela; Juan Carlos Varela, Panamá; Rafael Correa, Ecuador; Juan Manuel Santos, Colombia; Enrique Peña Nieto, México; Evo Morales, Bolivia; David Granger, Guyana; Daniel Ortega Nicaragua, Jocelerme Privert, Haiti, and Charles A. Savarin, Dominica. The prime ministers of Jamaica, Antigua & Barbuda and the vice presidents of Uruguay, Costa Rica and Honduras have confirmed.
During the 25 January meeting of heads of government, the focus will be on food security, migration and development and the global drug problem. There will also be discussions on nuclear disarmament, gender issues, advancement of women, funding for development, return of Guantanamo to Cuba, need to put an end to the trade block against Cuba, the Las Malvinas conflict, saving indigenous languages, sustainable health systems, and the 20-30 agenda, among others.
Also participating are officials from the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, the director of the FAO, the executive secretary of the ECLAC, the secretary of the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government (SEGIB), the secretary general of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System among others.
The opening event is set for 7pm on Tuesday, 24 January at the Gran Teatro of the Barceló Bávaro Beach Resort with the keynote and welcome address by President Danilo Medina.
Read more in Spanish:
http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2017/01/22/451252/comienzan-trabajos-de-cumbre-de-la-celac
http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2017/01/23/451372/hoy-comienzan-a-llegar-delegaciones-a-cumbre
23 January 2017
