PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – With the start of the meeting of Foreign Affairs ministers from South America on Thursday here, all is set for the historical 7th Summit of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) on Friday. This will be the first meeting of UNASUR government leaders without the late president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, the driving force behind this integration movement who died in March this year. During Friday’s meeting President Ollanta Humala from Peru will hand over the pro tempore chair of the organization to Suriname’s head of state Desi Bouterse who will hold this position for one year. During his tenure Bouterse will focus on unity and mutual understanding, while Suriname will have lead responsibility for the South American Electoral Council; the Council for Health; the Council for Social Development and the Council for Education, Culture, Science, Technology and Innovation.
