The European Union on Wednesday signed agreements liberalizing trade with Central America, Peru and Colombia, while some Latin American leaders criticized such deals as only favouring rich countries, dpa reported. The agreements were signed at EU bilateral summits with Central America and the Andean Community in Madrid. The meetings followed a summit between the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean on Tuesday, which brought the representatives of 60 countries - including more than 30 heads of state or government - to the Spanish capital. The EU's association agreement with Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala was its first such deal with Central America. Negotiations had been interrupted after Honduran president Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a June 2009 coup, but resumed after Porfirio Lobo was elected Zelaya's successor in November. Many Latin American countries do not recognize Lobo's legitimacy as president, leading him to stay away from Tuesday's summit. Lobo only attended the regional meeting at which the association agreement was sealed Wednesday. Separately, the EU and the Andean Community pledged to join forces against drug trafficking and global warming. Peruvian President Alan Garcia, whose country holds the Andean Community presidency, also urged wealthy countries to stop weapons sales to poorer ones. -- SPA
