Today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Heraldo Muñoz, joined President Michelle Bachelet at the Fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), held at the UNASUR headquarters, located in Quito, Ecuador.
The Foreign Minister said that several important issues for the region were discussed during the private meeting between the presidents. First, the situation that the Zika virus is generating which has caused great concern in different countries of the continent was analyzed, and best practices and ideas on how to combat this virus were analyzed. "Several of the presidents talked about the costs that [the Zika virus] is already having on the population and, therefore, agreed to hold a meeting of health ministers, probably in Montevideo," he said.
The Haiti electoral situation was also discussed, as the second round of presidential elections scheduled for last Sunday was postponed. "We know that the elections have been postponed and there is no clarity about what might happen next. It has been requested by President Martelli that the CELAC presidents collaborate to find a solution," said Foreign Minister Muñoz.
He also reported that the peace process in Colombia received an important place as a result of the decision of the United Nations Security Council to accept the request of the President of Colombia that it, in consultation with the countries of CELAC, send a policy monitoring and verification mission for the eventual peace agreement.
Finally, the Foreign Minister said that there was a concern at the meeting about how to face the current international situation of the falling prices of raw materials, without affecting social inclusion.
With regard to applications of Bolivia and Honduras for the Presidency Pro Tempore of CELAC in 2017, Minister Muñoz said that Chile will support Honduras and added that as there was no consensus on nominations, it is the Foreign Ministers who will handle this situation and reach an agreement.
"We believe that Honduras is a candidacy that deserves our support, for a subregional approach because we believe it also guarantees balance and fairness. Our choice, announced during last year's visit of the President of Honduras, and supports the nomination as other countries are doing." he said.
When asked about the statements of the Vice-President of Bolivia, Álvaro García Linera, who noted that a possible presidency of CELAC could serve to strengthen the campaign of the Bolivian maritime claim, Minister Muñoz stated that the CELAC countries should take note that statement. "Fairness and balance in the presidency is required in an organization that represents us all of us," he said.