MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (ViaNews) – Held every three years since its first edition in 1994, the Eight Summit of the Americas came to an end last Saturday in Lima, Perú.
During two days the heads of state and government representatives of the Western Hemisphere gathered on the Summit´s main topic “Democratic Governance against Corruption”.
The United States President Donald Trump canceled what would have been his first visit to Latin America. The North American country was represented at the VIII Summit of the Americas by its vice-president Mike Pence.
El Salvador, Guatemala, and Paraguay also sent their respective representatives.
During the inauguration of the Summit in Perú last week the President of Peru Martín Vizcarra stated:
“I call on you to work together in order to consolidate a democratic and peaceful society in the hemisphere, that supports human dignity and fosters the development of our peoples.”
“Overcoming corruption will bring us stability and new opportunities.”
“It’s an urgent need to act jointly in the face of a common challenge and meet our peoples’ expectations,” Vizcarra added.
Vizcarra replaced former President of Peru, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski who resigned by the end of March in the middle of a corruption scandal, linking him with the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.
Among the presidents and heads of state attending the Summit were Canada Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, the President of Brazil, Michel Temer, the President of Argentina, Mauricio Macri, and President of Uruguay, Tabaré Vázquez.
Dignitaries participating also held private dialogues such is the case of the President of Uruguay who met with the President of Brazil, Michel Temer and the President of Argentina, Mauricio Macri to discuss themes related to regional security and the Mercosur.
The Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS) Luis Almagro was also present at the Summit.
“It´s an honor to participate in the inauguration of the Summit of the Americas. The region is facing problems that go far beyond the strategic: freeing our hemispheric community from corruption is an existential task,“ stated Almagro.
The OAS and Mexico signed an agreement, during the Summit, for the deployment of a Mission to observe the July 1 federal and local elections with the former President of the Dominican Republic, Leonel Fernández, as Chief of Mission.
In July Mexicans will elect the president, 128 senators, 500 deputies, 8 governors, Mexico City Mayor and thousands of local and municipal posts.
Secretary-General, Luis Almagro designated former President of the Dominican Republic Leonel Fernández as Chief of Mission.
On Venezuela
By the end of the Summit, a declaration was issued and signed by the United States and 16 countries demanding “presidential elections with the guarantees required for a free, fair, transparent and democratic process, without political prisoners, including the participation of all Venezuelan political actors. The elections that do not comply with these conditions will lack legitimacy and credibility. ”
As the Summit came to an end, the President of Peru, Martín Vizcarra stated: “As president of this Eight Summit, I express my gratitude to the countries that participated with the firm objective of adopting specific commitments and measures to face corruption.”