Living in Peru : your everyday companion

(LIP-jl) -- Peruvian President Alan Garcia concluded his first full day of meetings in the United States as he attempts to build momentum in obtaining support from United States officials to ratify the U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement.

Early yesterday morning, Garcia met with U.S. President George W. Bush to discuss their strategy to convince U.S. Democrats in approving the trade promotion treaty between both nations.

"The President (Garcia) is here to urge the Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, to pass the free trade agreement with Peru, and I urge them to vote yes," said President Bush during yesterday's meeting in the White House Oval Office.

Garcia, who was firm in his position on the free trade agreement said: "I am here in the United States to promote the FTA between the United States and Peru. It is vital for our country. It is fundamental to continue this path of growth and social redistribution that we have started in my country."

"We have achieved an 8 percent annual growth in my country. This year we're expecting a similar growth, 8 percent annually, with 1 percent inflation, which creates more job opportunities," reiterated Garcia.

Garcia also started the difficult task of convincing the U.S. Congress to approve the commercial agreement by meeting with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Henry Reid (D-Nevada), who held firm in his party's position to renegotiate labor and environmental clauses listed in the FTA.

"We talked about the importance of negotiations to change the labor and environmental provisions and other aspects of the agreement. Changes to reflect Democratic concerns will be crucial to obtain the support of many Democrats for the agreement," said Reid.

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	Remarks from meeting between Peru's Garcia and U.S.'s Bush (by LIP, 23 April, 2007)
	Peru's Garcia in U.S. (by LIP, 23 April, 2007)
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