The President Michel Martelly arrived Thursday afternoon in Caracas, Venezuela, to attend the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. Welcomed at the airport Simon Bolivar by Ambassador accredited to Haiti in Venezuela David Lesly, the Venezuelan Chancellor Nicolás Maduro and the High General Staff of Venezuela, he reviewed the Venezuelan military battalion.

The President thanked once again the President Hugo Chavez and his people for their support to the Haitian people after the earthquake of January 2010 and in particular, places this travel in the context of the strengthening of bilateral relations with the Venezuela, and a closer ties with the other countries represented at the summit in areas as : Environment, economics, finance and politics.

"The purpose of this visit is to strengthen this cooperation, strengthening the ties of friendship, because before the cooperation, before the exchange, it is necessary to emphasize on human relationships and ensure that we can still closer the ties between the two peoples [...] I also take this opportunity to thank, for all the support that we received through the tripartite cooperation, Venezuela is helping us with Cuba in the health field, Venezuela helps us in the field of energy, so we wish that this visit will be again, a way to strengthen our ties..."

The Haitian delegation, headed by Michel Martelly, is composed among others of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Planning, Secretaries of State for Foreign Affairs, energy, and the Senators Lambert Wencesclas and Jocelerme Privert.

For his first day at work, the Head of State met several Venezuelan entrepreneurs which are expected shortly in Haiti to explore possible investments in several areas.

This Friday, the Head of the Haitian State will participate to the Summit, with the 32 other Heads of State and and of foreign governments. The President will have a meeting in private with his counterpart Hugo Chavez before attending an official dinner hosted by the Venezuelan President. The summit coincides with the national holiday of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4378-haiti-politic-the-president-martelly-will-participate-in-the-first-celac-summit-in-venezuela.html

HL/ HaitiLibre