Caracas (Reuters) - The president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, maintains its decision to attend the Summit of the Americas despite the rejection shown days ago by the Government of Peru.
The leader assured this Saturday that he wanted to shake hands with his American counterpart, Donald Trump, during this diplomatic meeting.
"If the opportunity that I had as chancellor and as president were given to shake hands with (former President Barack) Obama, to greet him with respect, I would do it with President Donald Trump, I wish that opportunity would arise," Maduro said in an interview broadcast on the state television channel, VTV.
"I would say with respect to President Donald Trump, we are going to understand each other, we are going to communicate, we are going to respect each other," he added without directly referring to the controversy generated by his attendance at the summit.
The Lima Group, made up of several American countries, said a few days ago that the Peruvian government had decided to reconsider Caracas' participation in the summit, which will be held in the capital of Peru on April 13 and 14, and that the members of the bloc respect that position.
The decision reinforces the political isolation of the socialist leader after the call for early presidential elections for April 22, in the midst of a campaign against the opposition and a deep economic crisis.
Maduro also reported that he will not attend the change of command in Chile due to a tour he will undertake in Asia.
Chile ruled out suspending the invitation to the Venezuelan president, despite having demonstrated together with other countries in the region against early elections in Venezuela.
Venezuela plans to carry out presidential election on April 22, after the National Constituent Assembly - a plenipotentiary body made up of Maduro supporters - decided to call. The president will seek re-election.
Report by Deisy Buitrago, edited by Gabriela Donoso.
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