Brasília, November 6, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva confirmed his presence at the 13th Conference of Ibero-American Heads of State and Government. The meeting will occur November 14-15 in Santa Cruz de La Sierra, in Bolivia, and will be attended by 21 countries. Spain, Portugal, and 19 Latin American nations will participate in the encounter.

The major topic of debate will be social inclusion as a development path. Presidents and prime-ministers should evaluate the results of the work group set up at the last summit meeting, in Bávaro, in the Dominican Republic. Suggestions will be presented for the creation of an Ibero-American risk assessment agency, as well as the intensification of political dialogue in the region.

Besides these items, the work group will present the conference with proposals to improve cooperation among member-states and to define criteria for the adhesion of new members. (DAS)