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Summit of Group of Rio Ends in Chile
Nineteen Latin American leaders closed the Group of Rio summit Saturday with the host announcing support from U.S. President George W. Bush for efforts to stabilize the turbulent markets shaken by the Argentine crisis.
Chilean President Ricardo Lagos, at the close of the two-day summit, said he had telephoned Bush and received assurances that the United States would work to check the current crisis troubling Latin America.
"President Bush indicated that the U.S. administration, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill are particularly worried about finding s sustainable, adequate solution to what is occurring particularly in Argentina," Lagos told a news conference.
A little before the closing ceremony, Chilean Foreign Minister Soledad Alvear said that she was satisfied with the accords reached during the summit, pointing out the meeting in Santiago had pushed the Latin American countries to unite and cope with the major political, economic and social issues.
Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso affirmed that at the summit, solidarity among Latin American countries was strengthened and the meeting also served to express the firm support to Argentina, which faces a severe economic crisis.
Cardoso also highlighted the debate concerning the position Group of Rio will take before the WTO to obtain greater access of its products, mainly agricultural products, to the world market.
The Group of Rio, a regional consultative and political negotiation organization formed in December 1986, includes Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Enditem
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