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PERU’S FOREIGN MINISTER TRUSTS IN A FAIR ELECTORAL PROCESS IN HIS COUNTRY

The Peruvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Oscar Maúrtua Romaña, addressing the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS), today reiterated his government’s commitment to hold elections that are “clear, transparent and fair, which essentially will mean the final stage of the democratic consolidation process begun five years ago, with the support of the OAS.”

The Foreign Minister, who was welcomed to the protocolary meeting by OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, referred to the general elections scheduled to take place in his country on April 9, 2006, saying that Peru will approach this electoral process confident that democracy is advancing not only institutionally, but also on a social level. “If the goal of democracy is the well-being of all, then real democracy is one that can produce economic development with justice,” he said, stressing that Peruvian democracy reflects this truth.

Maúrtua said that poverty must be substantially reduced in order for democracy in the hemisphere to be stable. In this context, he shared with the delegates the statistics recently published by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), which will show that between 2001 and 2004 extreme poverty was reduced in his country from 24.1 to 19.2%. “The social and economic policies of the Peruvian government have laid the foundation for sustainable and decentralized growth, resulting in higher expenditures, consumption and income,” he said.

Referring to the hemisphere’s progress in the fight against corruption and to the OAS support of Peru’s efforts in that regard, Maúrtua Romaña mentioned the case of former President Alberto Fujimori, currently under arrest in Chile. He said he hoped that the relevant Chilean authorities “will examine and make a decision on the matter, in an objective and timely manner, in accordance with the applicable laws and within the framework of the 1932 extradition treaty between the two countries, bearing in mind that this case involves acts of corruption and acts of human rights violations in government.”

Prior to the Permanent Council meeting, which was chaired by Ambassador Izben Williams of St. Kitts and Nevis, Insulza and Maúrtua signed an agreement on privileges and immunities that will cover the OAS Electoral Observation Mission, which will observe the elections at the request of the Peruvian government.

During the signing ceremony, the Secretary General thanked the Peruvian government for the invitation, noting that for the OAS, the observation of the elections will conclude a cycle that began when the Organization was called upon to assist in Peru’s efforts to fully restore democracy and which culminated with an election “that we remember as a milestone.”

“Peruvian democracy has been substantially strengthened by the democratic vocation of its people and by the consistency of the government of President Alejandro Toledo, who has promoted every aspect of democracy in every part of the country.” Insulza assured Minister Maúrtua that the OAS will be present “with a very high-level mission to close this cooperation cycle between the OAS and Peru.”

Reference: E-290/05