Colombia FM Visits Cuba as Mediator

HAVANA TIMES, Feb 8 — Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin will arrive in Cuba today to “mediate” the possible participation of the island in the upcoming Summit of the Americas, which will be sponsored by the US but will take place in Colombia, reported the Milenio website from that South American nation.

According to the report, a spokesperson for the US State Department said on Monday night that in “no way” would Havana “fulfill the requirements” to participate in that conference, which will be attended by President Barack Obama.

However Holguin commented, “What we do want is that we are all in agreement; we don’t want impositions, we don’t want some nations calling for (Cuba’s attendance) and others not. I’m going to talk with Cuba.” She will be holding talks with her Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez midmorning today.

The proposed participation of Cuba in the sixth summit, to be held on April 14 and 15 in Cartagena, came from Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa and was adopted as a diplomatic offensive by the bloc of eight countries making up the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA).