Cuba Leads 118 Nations at UN
Cuba´s Council of State Vice President Esteban Lazo is due to speak Wednesday at the plenary session of the 61st UN General Assembly, on behalf of his country and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Since September 15, Cuba is leading for the second time that 118-developing-nation group, representing almost two thirds of the 192 UN members.

The Cuban delegation head attended Tuesday the plenary session opened by UN General Secretary Kofi Annan, the lunch he gave to statesmen, and met with presidents from Pakistan and Sao Tome and Principe, as well as with US Rev. Lucius Walker.

Today´s agenda includes speeches by Panama President Martin Torrijos, Chile´s Michelle Bachelet, Venezuela´s Hugo Chavez, Guatemala´s Oscar Berger, Argentina´s Nestor Kirchner and Leonel Fernandez from the Dominican Republic.

According to the program, the forum will present Thursday an international convention project against forced disappearances, organized by the Argentinean and French Foreign Affairs Ministries.

A top-level conference on cooperation among religions is also expected, sponsored by the UN mission in Philippines.