São Paulo – The 3rd Summit of South American-Arab Countries (Aspa), to take place in Lima, Peru, on October 1st and 2nd, should have its themes discussed by representatives of both regions in the sidelines of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN), which began on Tuesday (18), in New York, in the United States, and ends on October 1st. The information was disclosed by the Brazilian Foreign Office (Itamaraty). The Aspa brings together the heads of state of both regions to discuss themes of common interest.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Brazil, some themes that are already in the minutes of the summit. One is the agreement for cooperation for simplification of the tourist flow between both regions. Another is a plan that the League of Arab States is developing regarding air and maritime connections between South America and the Arab world. The agenda should also include the disclosure of information about the two regions and investment flow.
The Itamaraty informs, however, that these are preliminary themes and that the minutes may change after talks in New York. The ministry defends the next Aspa as an opportunity for interaction between leaders in both regions after the Arab Spring.
In the business forum, to take place in the sidelines of the meeting of heads of state and government, at Swissotel, one of the themes to be included in the minutes, according to the Itamaraty, is creation of a Federation of Arab and South American Chambers of Commerce. The meeting is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Peru alongside the Peruvian Foreign Trade Society (Comexperu).
According to the Itamaraty, the participation of Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff in the meeting in Lima has not yet been confirmed. According to information disclosed by Andina, the news agency of the government of Peru, at least five Arab leaders confirm presence in the summit. The meeting of leaders should take place at the installations of the Ministry of Culture of Peru and opening should take place at the Grand National Theatre of Peru.
*Translated by Mark Ament
