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South American Leaders Discuss Aid for Haiti

   VOA News 09 February 2010
   Ecuador's   Pres.   Rafael   Correa  (R)  welcomes  delegates  to  the
   extraordinary  meeting  of Union of South American Nations in Quito as
   Haiti's Pres. Rene Preval (2nd left) looks on, 09 Feb 2010

Photo: AP

   Ecuador's   Pres.   Rafael   Correa  (R)  welcomes  delegates  to  the
   extraordinary  meeting  of Union of South American Nations in Quito as
   Haiti's Pres. Rene Preval (2nd left) looks on, 09 Feb 2010

   South American leaders have held a summit in Quito, Ecuador to discuss
   coordinating aid efforts in earthquake-devastated Haiti.
   Members  of  the  Union  of  South  American Nations (UNASUR) gathered
   Tuesday for the talks.  The group includes the presidents of Colombia,
   Peru, Paraguay and host nation Ecuador, among others.
   Haitian  President  Rene Preval attended the meeting, which took place
   exactly  four  weeks  after  the  earthquake  struck Haiti, leaving an
   estimated 200,000 people dead and about one million others homeless.
   The  gathering  was to have included Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez,
   but  he  canceled  at  the last minute.  Mr. Chavez has criticized the
   U.S. aid operation in Haiti.
   He has also had disagreements with Colombia over its decision to allow
   the U.S. access to seven military bases for anti-drug operations.
   Peruvian  President Alan Garcia Tuesday said he hoped the region could
   work together as a bloc to help Haiti.


   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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