UNASUR Summit Meeting to Discuss Haitian Aid Effort

The Ecuadorian Foreign minister said that the meeting will aim to better coordinate the extensive efforts being undertaken by the Latin American community to help Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake that hit last month

QUITO, February 3.—The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) will hold a Summit meeting on Tuesday in Quito to discuss ways to strengthen government institutions in Haiti to try to return normality to the nation and improve aid efforts, reported Prensa Latina.

During a press conference, Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Eduardo Patiño said that for the time being the only item on the summit agenda is aid and improving aid coordination for the Haitian people. Patiño confirmed the participation of Heads of State from Venezuela (Hugo Chavez), Colombia (Alvaro Uribe), Bolivia (Evo Morales), Peru (Alan García) and Paraguay (Fernando Lugo), and said that other regional leaders that might confirm their participation in the coming days include those from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Guyana, Surinam and Uruguay. The Ecuadorian Foreign minister said that the meeting, convened by the current UNASUR president, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa after his recent visit to Haiti, aims to better coordinate the extensive efforts being undertaken by the Latin American community to help Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake that hit last month.

Eduardo Patiño said the goal is to have the aid reach the Haitian victims while at the same time serve to strengthen government institutions in the wake of the several government officials who died as a result of the earthquake and the extensive damage to government institutions and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Bolivian government reiterated their position of providing aid in food supplies, healthcare and reconstruction, while reiterating its strong opposition to the US military presence dominating in this poor nation.