UNITED NATIONS, July 20 (Xinhuanet) -- UN Secretary-General has sent his Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Latin AmericaIssues, Diego Cordovez, for a five-day mission to Venezuela, a UN spokesman said here Tuesday.

    Spokesman Fred Eckhard told a press briefing in New York that the purpose of the trip is to keep the Secretary-General abreast of the latest developments regarding the referendum scheduled for Aug. 15.

    "Cordovez will be meeting with representatives from the Government, opposition, media, civil society, and international players, such as the Organization of American States, the Carter Center and the Group of Friends," Eckhard said.

    He added that the UN chief has been closely monitoring developments in Venezuela, and met with Cordovez Monday to discussthe details of the mission.

    Asked whether the United Nations would be sending observers to the referendum in Venezuela, the spokesman said that the world body had not been asked to provide observers. He noted that the Organization of American States and the Carter Center had both been observing the entire process in Venezuela and would do so on this occasion.

    Diego Cordovez was a staff member of the United Nations for 25 years. From 1981 to 1988 he served as the Under-Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs. From 1988 to 1992 he was the Foreign Minister of Ecuador. Enditem