Central American Leaders Meet to Prepare For Summit with Bush

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, March 13, 2002

Central American Leaders Meet to Prepare For Summit with Bush

Leaders from Central American countries opened an informal summit Tuesday to decide on issues they will discuss with U.S. President George W. Bush in El Salvador on March 24.

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Leaders from Central American countries opened an informal summit Tuesday to decide on issues they will discuss with U.S. President George W. Bush in El Salvador on March 24.

During the meeting, which opened at the resort city of Pochomil on the Nicaraguan Pacific Coast, the leaders will discuss perspectives for the upcoming negotiations that are expected to finalize a free trade agreement between Central America and the United States.

"It's time to act and put aside protocol," Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos said during the opening speech, adding that the Central American people expect leaders to respond to their demands.

Bolanos said it is time for Central American leaders to join as a region and highlighted the move to meet in Nicaragua by saying " Your presence and will to consolidate regional integration is a sign of your interest to act together to face a globalized world."

Attending the informal summit are Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos, Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo, Honduran President Ricardo Maduro, El Salvadorian President Francisco Flores, Costa Rican President Miguel Angel Rodriguez, Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso, and Belizean Foreign Minister Assad Sheman. Foreign, economy and trade ministers of the region are also present at the talks.

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