President Chávez has two upcoming summits in his agenda

Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez failed to attend the recent Ibero-American Summit in Cádiz, Spain. Now, he has included in his agenda the invitations to two events over the next 17 days. Lima and Brasilia await him.

Peru is the first destination. The Sixth Meeting of Heads of State and Government of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) will take place in Lima, the capital city, on November 30.

"I feel that this summit will give a renewed momentum to the process of integration, due to its subject matter; thus, we repose hope and are convinced that we will move forward faster," Unasur Secretary-General Alí Rodríguez said.

The presidents of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela and Surinam are expected to the event.

Nevertheless, Chávez has not confirmed his attendance yet. In the meantime, his public appearances are fewer and fewer, even though gubernatorial elections are approaching.

Seven days after the visit to Lima, on December 7, Chávez is slated to fly to Brasilia, for the Summit of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur).

President Chávez already confirmed his attendance at this important meeting three weeks ago. "(Brazilian) Minister of Foreign Affairs (Antonio de Aguiar) Patriota has brought to me an invitation to Brasilia on December 7. God willing, we'll be there," the Venezuelan leader vowed.

Another meeting in Chávez's agenda is his rendezvous with Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos by the end of 2012.

Translated by Conchita Delgado