The officials responsible for external affairs of 24 countries of the Americas will start on Wednesday in Cartagena, Colombia, the sessions of the Regional Meeting on the global issue of illicit drugs, which will be attended by six presidents in the hemisphere.
 
A spokesman of the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Efe that the presidents of Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Mexico will take part in the event.

According to the source, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez will be represented by his Minister of the Interior Ramón Rodríguez Chacín, even though it was initially planned to send some officials in the anti-drug sector.

Colombian President Álvaro Uribe will open the formal summit on Friday morning, within a half-working day that includes a private session and the execution of multiple papers, including the Cartagena Declaration.