It was a busy week indeed in Latin America. Brazilian President Lula had invited French President Sarkozy to an Amazonian summit which dealt with climate change, and specifically how to put more pressure on the U.S. and China at the upcoming Copenhagen Conference to reduce their carbon emissions, as well as find means to lend financial assistance to developing countries. The meeting, which took place in Manaus, Brazil, was snubbed by six heads of state including Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, Bolivia's Evo Morales, Colombia's Alvaro Uribe and Alan Garcia of Peu.
On Friday, the UNASUR ( Union of South American Nations) Conference opened in Quito, Ecuador with the hopes of defusing the tensions between Colombia and Venezuela. Colombia's Uribe did not attend and drew heavy criticism from Venezuela's foreign minister, Nicolas Maduro, who called the 'absence is inexplicable, a huge mistake and an act of contempt towards Unasur.'
The presence of U.S. armed forces on Colombian soil has caused worry among UNASUR's member, especially Venezuela, where Hugo Chavez called on his countrymen, earlier this month, to prepare for war.
Notwithstanding, all of this lip service does not detract from Chavez doing what he loves best: being in the limelight. However, both Abbas and Ahamadinejad went to visit President Lula of Brazil before landing in Caracas.
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