The heads of state of Spain, Venezuela, Brazil and Colombia called for greater integration between Europe and Latin America during a summit late Tuesday in Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela. Their joint statement also vowed greater cooperation to combat poverty, terrorism and organized crime. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, host of the one-day summit, spoke of drawing a new geopolitical map. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero called for continued similar meetings and concrete measures to advance economic integration between the two continents. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a former labour union leader, used the opportunity of the summit to express solidarity with the controversial Chavez, a left-wing populist.
