MIAMI: Cuba will attend the Summit of the Americas next year for the first time in the history of the regional gathering that began in Miami two decades ago, Panama’s foreign minister said yesterday.
Panama is organising the April summit, which has brought leaders together at three- to four-year intervals since 1994 at different locations around the region.
Panamanian Foreign Minister Isabel de Saint Malo said Cuba and several other countries had confirmed they would attend the summit within days of receiving a formal invitation. It was unclear whether Havana would be represented by Cuban President Raul Castro or someone else.
Castro skipped an Ibero-American summit in Veracruz, Mexico earlier this week, sending his number two Miguel Diaz-Canel at the last minute instead.
“Panama is working for all the heads of state and government from the 35 countries of the Americas to be present at the VII Summit,” Saint Malo said.
Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and El Salvador have also said they will attend, she said.
AFP
