Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Peru’s new American Ambassador had a shaky start. Peter Michael McKinley arrived for his term as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Peru and was welcomed by the country’s most devastating earthquake. Still, the diplomat took it in stride and presented his credentials before President Alan Garcia Perez on August 23rd. This new representation brings a new era in Peruvian and American relations, which have had a long-standing reputation of cooperation and mutual aid.

Since his arrival in Lima, the Ambassador has been hard at work maintaining this amicable relationship. “Currently we are reviewing matters regarding such as the Free Trade Treaty, the battle against drug trafficking and the plan for economic development. The relationship between our countries is already well-established,” says the Ambassador as reported by ANDINA.

After visiting the National Industrial Work Training Service (SENATI), the diplomat said he was impressed by the institution, which was a genuine representation of the dedication that has been put forth towards the cause. “And the most important aspect is that the SENATI has established a presence in all the departments of the country.” He acknowledged the 44 operational centers that have given Peruvian youth a new opportunity to enter the work force, which is essential in the “economic transformation of the country.”

McKinley, who has been a member of the Senior Foreign Service since 1982, was Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels, before taking his position as Ambassador in Peru. From 2001 until 2004, McKinley was Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration at the Department of State. Before that, he held the titles of Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires in the U.S. embassies of Mozambique, Uganda and Belgium. Prior, he was counselor in Great Britain (1985-1990) and Bolivia (1983-1985). McKinley also served in Washington D.C in the late 1980

The Ambassador was born in Venezuela in 1954 and spent his childhood in Brazil, Mexico, Spain and the United States. He graduated from Southampton University and received his doctorate degree from Oxford University in England in 1982.  His history of colonial Venezuela was later published by Cambridge University Press as part of its Latin America series, which was also translated for the Spanish edition.

Ambassador McKinley is married to Mrs. Fátima Salces and together they have three children. Aside from English, McKinley speaks Spanish, Portuguese and French.

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No disrespect to US readers, but it must be a slow week if you think this is a leader news item. I mean, who really cares?

You cared enough to leave a comment.

Only in the sense of encouraging the editors to be a bit more discriminating in their choice of headline. I don't think the comings and goings of any ambassador --not just the American one-- are really going to grab the attention of readers. It's not like Mr. McKinley is a head of state or anything.

Dear Simon We would publish the departure/arrival of any ambassador, if their respective embassy would inform us.  App. 6000 “Peru this Week” newsletter subscribers and 22.000 LivinginPeru.com users are foreigners residing in Peru and I’m sure many of those would like to know who their ambassadors is. That’s why we are publishing information like this. Have a nice weekend! Yours Sincerely Carsten KorchEditor-in-Chief/GM

I am considering moving to Peru to study Spanish and am facinated by this story and the knowledge our countries share. Well done! I will continue to access your site.

hahaha...good US reader!

Welcome to Peru ¡¡
Good Luck

Thank you for the article on Ambassador McKinley and informing your readers about his new position and background.  As a frequent visitor to Peru (from the US) I appreciate knowing who our ambassador is and some background information as you have published.  So some of us do really care about this news and I am thankful for you bringing this information to us.  It grabbed my attention.