Lula invites South American leaders to a 'retreat' in Brasília aimed at 'repositioning the region'.
The format chosen by the Brazilian government aims to create an intimate environment where heads of state can converse without interruptions and large delegations nearby.
Sputnik - In a letter signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the president officially invited South American presidents to participate in a "retreat" for heads of state from the region in Brasília on May 30th.
The format chosen by the Brazilian government is intended to create an intimate environment in which heads of state can converse, without interruptions and large delegations nearby, about Brazil's idea of reactivating the Union of South American Nations (Unasur), among other topics on the regional agenda, according to the newspaper O Globo.
In the document sent to leaders and read by the media, Lula defends the need to revitalize integration in South America and asks that differences be set aside "in the name of a common destiny," in addition to highlighting the need for cooperation in matters of defense, health, and infrastructure, among other issues.
The president also highlights the repositioning of South America as a player on the global stage and mentions the geopolitical challenges of the current world.
According to media reports, some presidents have already received Lula's letter, including Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who met this week with the Brazilian presidency's special advisor, Celso Amorim, in Bogotá. Other letters will be delivered by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, who will visit Ecuador and Bolivia next week.
The Planalto Palace also expects the participation of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in the May 30 meeting, according to Brazilian sources. However, greater resistance to Maduro's presence may come from some countries, such as Ecuador and Paraguay.
But Colombian President Petro has already requested a meeting with the Brazilian president, and there is a strong expectation of a conversation between Lula and Maduro — pending since January, when the Venezuelan president canceled his attendance at the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States summit in Buenos Aires.