SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia, Nov. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan wrapped up his first visit to Latin America Saturday after attending the 13th Latin American-Iberian Summit in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.

    During the four-nation tour -- Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia,Annan discussed with leaders of these countries on the UN role in the post-war reconstruction of Iraq, peace talks in Colombia, US-imposed embargo on Cuba and the recent political crisis in Bolivia.

    On Iraq, Annan stressed the need and importance to restore peace and to achieve a safe environment in Iraq.

    "We would like to have a political transformation, but certainly that demands a secure circumstance. After all, security is an element of utmost importance," he said. He also stressed there will be no development in Iraq so long as peace is not reached.

    To achieve the goal, the UN is willing to work hand-in-hand with the United States and with Iraq's neighbors, Annan said. "If the region is not stabilized, there will be no peace, and without peace, there is no security. Thus there will be no development," he added.

    As for the decades-long armed conflict in Colombia, Annan ruledout direct UN involvement in finding a solution.

    "The United Nations, although worried about the Colombian conflict, will not directly get involved in the solution of it," Annan told a press conference Monday after concluding a four-day visit to Ecuador,

    Ecuadorian President Lucio Gutierrez has requested the UN on many occasions to participate in an active way in seeking a solution to the Colombian war.

    Since taking office in August 2002, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has adopted a tough policy against the rebels in order to put an early end to the country's bloody civil war, in which an average 3,500 people, most of civilians, are killed each year.

    "What we do is to follow up, give humanitarian aid, watch over the respect of human rights and give a certain legal advise, but Ithink that the direct conversation with those forces is up to the government," Annan told reporters.

    In the two-day visit to Peru, Annan called for the lift of sanctions against Cuba imposed by the United States.

    "The US government knows our position on the issue and we look forward to the lifting of the economic sanctions against Cuba," said Annan during the joint conference with Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo.

    Last week, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution calling for an end of the economic, financial and trade embargo kept by the United States against Cuba since 1960.

    With increasing support in the United States for the normalization of bilateral relations, the US Congress allowed sales of agricultural products to Cuba three years ago, but only for cash purchases.

    Cuba official figures have showed that the four-decade Americanblockade has resulted in up to 70 billion US dollars in indirect losses to the country, with direct economic and social losses totaling more than 54 billion dollars.

    During his visit to Bolivia, Annan urged the new government of Bolivia to promote the rule of law and social inclusion to win back people's confidence.

    Once the October crisis, which claimed 80 lives and led to Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada's resignation as president, is overcome,the new government led by Carlos Mesa must work now for the resumption of confidence among citizens, but with social inclusionas well, Annan said.

    "The United Nations is your true ally for peace, democracy and development," Annan said.

    Annan also reiterated his position as mediator on the issue of the maritime claim by Bolivia to Chile, which was a result of a war in 1987 between Bolivia and a Chilean-Peruvian alliance.

    As a special guest to the 13th Latin American-Iberian Summit, Annan attended the inauguration of the summit Friday in the eastern Bolivian city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

    Addressing the 21 participating heads of state or government inthe summit, Annan called on the international community to supportthe combat against poverty and inequality in Latin America.

    "The countries need to be offered with more social investment, including a foreign debt relief. These countries need a certain space, a certain margin," said the UN official.

    Annan also expressed his concerns over the results of Latin American-Iberian nations adapting their economies to the new worldmarket, since these efforts have not brought much improvement in living conditions.

    He stressed that a primordial goal, which is the most importantone for Latin America, is the eradication of extreme poverty and famine

    On the other hand, he requested the collaboration of the regionto create a World Association for Development, which will kick offnext month at Mexico's southeastern city of Merida with the signing of the UN Convention Against Corruption, and to enforce the interests of the developing world in the world trade system, as it happened in Cancun, Mexico, in September.

    Meanwhile, Annan also pledged to request the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs to pay attention to Latin America, coping with the instability in the financial flows, tackling its foreign-debt burden and helping modernize technology and reduce social tension arising in the process of globalization. Enditem