How can I set a pause between 2 functions?

How can I set a pause between 2 functions?

I have defined the following function:

  1. function animacion_frase($elemento)
  2. {
  3.    $tiempo_1=1000;
  4.    $tiempo_2=1000;
  5.    $tiempo_pausa=1000;
  6.    
  7.    $($elemento+" .parte-primera").animate({left:"+=20px", opacity:1}, $tiempo_1).animate({left:"+=0px"}, $tiempo_pausa).animate({opacity:.0}, $tiempo_2).animate({left:"-=20px"}, 0);
  8.    $($elemento+" .parte-segunda").animate({left:"-=20px", opacity:1}, $tiempo_1).animate({left:"+=0px"}, $tiempo_pausa).animate({opacity:.0}, $tiempo_2).animate({left:"+=20px"}, 0);        
  9. }

And I am calling this function for two different elements:

  1. function animate_element(){    
  2.    animacion_frase("#frases-homepage #frase-1"); 
  3.    animacion_frase("#frases-homepage #frase-2"); 
  4.    animacion_frase("#frases-homepage #frase-3"); 
  5.    setTimeout("animate_element()",9000);
  6. }

But I want to add a pause between the the two calls. If I use a setTimeout to call the second function it works, but nothing else happens. 

  1. function animate_element(){    
  2.    animacion_frase("#frases-homepage #frase-1"); 
  3.    setTimeout('animacion_frase("#frases-homepage #frase-2")', 3000); 
  4.    setTimeout('animacion_frase("#frases-homepage #frase-3")', 3000); 
  5.    setTimeout("animate_element()",9000);
  6. }
What am I doing wrong?

Thanks in advanced!