Finding ways to decrease violence is among the topics President Oscar Arias and his counterparts plan to discuss at the Summit of Latin American-Iberian Heads of State to be held Thursday through Saturday in Santiago, Chile.

Arias hopes to open a dialogue about security, environmental protection and peace, according to a statement from Casa Presidencial.

The President believes “violence in the region is at worrisome levels that require the strengthening of prevention and control strategies to achieve better levels of citizen security,” the statement said.

During his three days there, Arias plans to meet with King Juan Carlos I of Spain, Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and Mexican President Felipe Calderón.

-Tico Times