PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF PERU

Press Briefing

PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF PERU

All countries neighbouring Colombia were interested in that country's internal peace, Peru's President Alberto Fujimori told correspondents today at a press conference.

However Colombia's neighbours were obliged to take preventive measures to ensure that they did not suffer as a result of the problems in Colombia, or attempts to resolve them, President Fujimori said, responding to a series of questions on the implications of the conflict in Colombia for neighbouring States. Peru had established a military cordon on its border even before launch of the latest Colombian initiative for peace and stability -- the "Colombia Plan". He understood that communication facilities had also been upgraded on Venezuela's border with Colombia.

Peru's own effort against terrorism had used intelligence gathering and emergency anti-terrorist legislation to capture the main actors, combined with other measures, such as use of maximum security prisons, the President explained. By breaking the link between terrorists and drug traffickers, the Government had been able to dismantle terrorist organizations. It was now continuing the struggle against drug trafficking.

Asked about Jordan's claim that weapons it had sold to the Government of Peru had been diverted to Colombian guerrillas, Mr. Fujimori said his country and Colombia were presently sharing information, and that a full investigation would be conducted. It appeared that a criminal group had "usurped the name of Peru". No Government official had been involved, he stressed.

To a series of questions on the Government's "change of attitude" about the trial of Laurie Berenson -- a United States citizen being held in a Peruvian jail -- Mr. Fujimori said the decision to transfer her case from military to civilian courts had been a judicial, not an executive, decision. Persons charged with use of explosives and leaders of terrorist groups were tried by military courts, while those engaged in "common terrorism" were tried by civilian courts. Last December, after Berenson's attorneys had submitted a call for a formal review, the military court judges had determined that her case was one of "common terrorism".

Asked about the propriety of his re-election, the President stated that neither the Organization of American States (OAS) nor any other body had suggested there had been any electoral fraud. Police had been involved in security for the elections, and their involvement in no way invalidated the process.

A correspondent asked for details on the President's proposal for a "United States of South America". Mr. Fujimori explained that South American countries were moving towards economic integration. A free trade arrangement between the Andean Community and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) might be followed by political integration. This was a dream at the moment, but dreams could become reality, he added.

Fujimori Press Conference - 2 - 8 September 2000

Asked about Cuban President Fidel Castro's assertion that power in the United Nations had shifted inappropriately from the General Assembly to the Security Council, President Fujimori said the Assembly had indeed been removed from decision-making in many key areas. Latin American countries were seeking greater representation in the Council, but, in an era of globalization, the Assembly should be empowered to make most important decisions.

President Fujimori said that there was a great deal of misinformation about Peru, in response to a question about his country's image. Peru had an elected President, tremendous economic potential, and had made significant social progress. In the past decade, literacy rates had risen from 85.5 per cent to 95 per cent; primary school attendance had risen from 67 to 97 per cent; water iodination from 64 to 100 per cent; and vaccination rates from 60 to 99 per cent.

Having passed through the difficult period, the Government was now working to strengthen democratic institutions, the President said. Peru was stable and peaceful, and building its future.

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