The second Summit of Latin America and the Caribbean on Integration and Development will take place in Mexico on February 22-23 without new Honduran President Porfirio Lobo, the summit organizers have said.
Lobo, who was elected new Honduran leader in late November 2009, after Manuel Zelaya had been ousted as president in the June 28 military coup, was not invited for the summit. Its organizer, Mexico, says the Organization of American States should first decide on whether to recognize or not the new Honduran leader, who took office on January 27.
The Honduran elections took place amid political crisis and put an end to the self-declared presidency of Roberto Micheletti, who led the coup. Many countries and international bodies warned that they would not recognize the results if the polls were held under Micheletti's presidency.
During the summit, which will take place in the Mexican city of Cancun, heads of states and governments of more than 24 countries will try to work out a common position on the main international problems and the issues of economic integration of Latin American and Caribbean nations.
The summit is also expected to discuss the results of Mexico's chairmanship in the RIO Group, an international body, which comprises more than 20 Latin American and Caribbean states. The bloc was created in 1986 in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, who had delayed the official confirmation of his participation in the summit, said he would attend the talks.
"I took a decision to go to Mexico and take part in the meeting of the RIO Group and the Summit of Latin America and the Caribbean, where a range of interesting issues will be considered without the U.S. and Canada," a statement issued by the summit organizers quoted Chavez as saying.
CANCUN (MEXICO), February 21 (RIA Novosti)
