Duke University's Fuqua School of Business is bringing together prominent attorneys, politicians and economists pointing the way to doing business in Latin America.

Duke hosts a two-day conference opening Wednesday with a video address by Carlos Menem (MEH-nem), former president of Argentina. The conference aims to provide a general overview of the business and legal environment and trends in Latin America.

Menem is a controversial figure in one of the continents largest countries. Menem served from 1989 to 1999. He is being tried on charges of illegally trafficking arms during the 1990s. Last week, he refused to testify at the trial.

Menem denies prosecution charges that he and 17 others sold artillery, anti-tank missiles, and other weapons to Croatia and Ecuador in violation of a U.N. bans.