The President of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, highlighted the success of the VII Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) held on Tuesday in Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires, January 26 (RHC)--  The President of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, highlighted the success of the VII Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) held on Tuesday in Buenos Aires.

In statements to teleSUR, the Argentinean president said: "I think it was very valuable, we had the representation of 33 countries."   "I think that the continent should definitely understand once and for all that we must work together," said the head of state.

He also indicated that he had bilateral meetings with authorities from several countries, including Honduras and Haiti, with whom he discussed various points.   "They were all important meetings, each with its own theme, they are different countries, but all very valuable," he said.

On the other hand, he thanked Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for ensuring the successful development of the Celac summit.  "Yesterday President Maduro called me and I believe that he tried to favor the success of CELAC and not to turn CELAC into a show against Maduro and I value his gesture very much.  I am very grateful to President Maduro for having thought first of CELAC," he said.

Prior to the summit, the Venezuelan government denounced a plan of the neo-fascist right wing against the delegation that would attend the summit, headed by President Maduro.  In view of this, Foreign Minister Yván Gil Pinto attended as head of the delegation.

Finally, the Argentinean president recalled that there remains "the challenge of CELAC with the European Union in the middle of this year" and that they must work so that this summit "makes sense."   

The Argentinean President handed over the pro tempore presidency of Celac to the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves.