SAN JOSE (AFP) - Leaders from Spain, Portugal and their former colonies in Latin America gathered in the Costa Rican capital for an annual summit marked by the absence of key players.
The Iberoamerican summit was to be inaugurated late Friday, before the heads of state and of government sit down for a day of formal talks at a San Jose hotel Saturday.
The gathering was largely overshadowed by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Santiago, also held over the weekend.
And it was marked by the absence of presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Ricardo Lagos of Chile, Fidel Castro of Cuba, Alejandro Toledo of Peru, Jorge Fernando Brando de Sampaio of Portugal and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.
Education topped the agenda, and a draft of the final declaration calls for "creative" new approaches to tackle the lack of funding in that sector.
The leaders will also discuss a host of other issues, and the participation of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was expected to be a highlight as it will be his first visit to Latin America.
Zapatero, a socialist, might use the opportunity to outline his government`s position toward communist Cuba.
In past Iberoamerican summits, Castro has faced criticism of his government`s human rights record.
Preparations for this year`s gathering were marked by Havana`s request for the leaders to condemn Panama for pardoning four Cubans convicted in a plot to assassinate Castro during the 2000 Iberoamerican summit.
The Cuban delegation has agreed to tone down the language in the resolution to be formally adopted at the end of the summit.
Havana cut ties with Panama City in August over the pardon, but the two sides announced Friday they had restored consular relations.
The announcement came after Panama`s President Martin Torrijos and Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage held talks on the sidelines of the Costa Rica gathering.
Meanwhile, a senior UN official urged international financial institutions to ease their conditions for aid to Haiti.
"We strongly urge them to ease some norms," said Juan Gabriel Valdes, the UN special envoy to Haiti.
"There are 1.3 billion dollars pledged in Washington from various governments and international organizations for projects in Haiti, but internal rules by organizations like the World Bank, as well as the delicate situation of the Haitian government, are delaying their utilization," Valdes told AFP.
11/19/2004 - 21:15 GMT - AFP