Caracas, April 14  (RHC)-- Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez will not participate at the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, foreign minister Nicolas Maduro announced on Saturday.

During a speech delivered from the People's Balcony at the Miraflores Palace, Chávez had explained that the decision to attend the summit would depend on what his doctors say about his condition.

The Venezuelan leader will travel to Cuba to continue a radiotherapy treatment he began in Havana on March 24th.

Chavez added that he requested the National Assembly authorization to stay in Cuba for an entire week in order to complete two pending treatment cycles. Chávez highlighted that he is recovering and receiving radiotherapy, but despite the impact of radiations, he is doing well.

Concerning the Summit of the Americas, the Venezuelan President noted that the United States and Canada are opposed to discussing two very important issues at the gathering: the situation of the Malvinas Islands and Cuba's exclusion from the continental meeting.
He said that if the two countries are reluctant to debate such important subjects, it would be better for the continent to put an end to these summits.

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