Mexico to hold XXI CELAC foreign ministers' meeting

Mexico City, July 21 (RHC)-- Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday that the country is ready for next Saturday's XXI meeting of foreign ministers of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), a preparatory meeting for the summit of heads of state to be held next September.

The summit coincides with the 238th anniversary of the birth of Simon Bolivar, who will be honored at the event with an extensive program of activities, where in the first instance will be the foreign ministers recalling the milestones of the Liberator.

"We have the confirmation of 25 foreign ministers and ministers of Foreign Affairs or Economy. The countries that have a special and complicated situation will be represented by their ambassadors in Mexico and three deputy ministers due to previous commitments of the foreign ministers.  We will have the presence of all 33 Latin American countries," said the Mexican Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Maximiliano Zúñiga.

On Friday, the foreign ministers of the region will participate in the laying of a wreath at the Monument to the Liberator Simón Bolívar on the Paseo de la Reforma in the Mexican capital. Afterwards, they will participate in an official ceremony at Chapultepec Castle, led by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

The meeting will begin at the Chapultepec Castle itself, which will be opened by Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard in his capacity as representative of the temporary presidency of CELAC, held by Mexico.  Ebrard will hold meetings with the 15 Latin American and Caribbean foreign ministers participating in the summit.

It was announced that the Integral Plan for Sanitary Self-Sufficiency, presented by the Economic Commission of ECLAC, and the Food Security Cooperation Agreement, by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), will be discussed at the meeting.  The ministers will examine the documents to be approved by the region's leaders at the summit to be held next September in Mexico City.

On Saturday, the commemorative act for Bolivar's birthday will be held, where the Mexican president will be present.  In the context of CELAC, Mexico is promoting the creation of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency.