Hugo Chávez to Fernando Lugo Inauguration

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez travels to Paraguay Thursday to attend the August 15 inauguration of president-elect Fernando Lugo. Addressing a political act on the International Youth Day at Caracas' Teresa Carreno Theater, Chavez confirmed he will be in Asuncion along with several other world leaders. The Venezuelan statesman's agenda in Paraguay also includes the signing of the first bilateral agreements. Lugo, whose victory ended over six decades of Colorado Party representatives in power, visited Venezuela June 18-19, as part of a tour that also took him to Bolivia and Ecuador. Both leaders then agreed to boost technical cooperation between Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and PETROPAR companies, to reach energy sovereignty. Both presidents expressed their undying commitment to fighting poverty, going ahead with literacy campaigns, improving access to public services for the most vulnerable populations and increasing the Cuban-Venezuelan free eye surgery program Operation Miracle.